REESE   LIBRARY 

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UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA.    | 


- 


- 


AMERICAN 


PLUMBING     PRACTICE. 


FROM 
THE    ENGINEERING    RECORD. 


- 


(Prior  to  1887  THE  SANITARY  ENGINEER.) 


A.     SELECTED     REF>RINT 


OF  ARTICLES   DESCRIBING   NOTABLE    PLUMBING    INSTALLATIONS    IN    THE   UNITED 

STATES,  AND   QUESTIONS   AND   ANSWERS  ON   PROBLEMS  ARISING 

IN    PLUMBING    AND    HOUSE    DRAINAGE. 


WITH    FIVE  HUNDRED  AND  THIRTY-SIX    ILLUSTRATIONS. 


NEW  YORK : 

THE    EXNGIXEERING    RECORD, 
1896. 


Copyright,  1896 
By  THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD- 


PREFACE, 


T 


HE  ENGINEERING  RECORD,  prior  to  1887  THE  SANITARY  ENGINEER,  has 
for  17  years  given  much  attention  to  domestic  water  supply,  house  drainage, 
ventilation,  and  plumbing.  Beside  the  frequent  illustrated  descriptions  of  notable  and 
interesting  current  work,  a  great  variety  of  questions  in  this  field  have  been  answered. 
In  1885  "Plumbing  and  House  Drainage  Problems"  was  published. 

The  present  volume,  "American  Plumbing  Practice,"  is  a  compilation  of  illustrated 
descriptions  of  plumbing  installations  in  modern  buildings  of  every  character,  together 
with  Notes  and  Queries  touching  interesting  points  developed  in  practice,  from  articles 
which  have  appeared  'in  THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD  since  the  publication  of 
"  Plumbing  and  House  Drainage  Problems."  Within  this  period  the  towering  office 
building  has  been  developed,  involving  special  problems  of  drainage  and  plumbing. 
The  equipment  of  hotels,  hospitals,  amusement  halls,  swimming  baths,  and  other  public 
buildings  has  been  upon  the  most  thorough  and  elaborate  scale,  and  in  the  description 
of  the  plumbing  of  residences  examples  may  be  found  of  nearly  every  class  of  dwelling. 
Its  division  of  Notes  and  Queries  is  intended  to  supplement  "Plumbing  Problems," 
bringing  these  queries  well  up  to  date.  The  greater  part  of  the  book  consists  of 
descriptive  matter  nowhere  else  available  in  permanent  form. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


PLUMBING  OF  RESIDENCES. 

An  Attempt  to  Deceive  a  Plumbing  Inspector 29 

An  Overhead  Arrangement  of  Bathroom  Pipes.     7*wo  Illustrations 23 

A  Special  Bathroom.     Four  Illustrations 18 

A  Special  Roof  Tank.     Two  Illustrations  65 

Dangerous  Blunders  in  Plumbing.     One  Illustration 22 

Drainage  and  Water  Supply  of  a  Hartford  House.     Ten  Illustrations 9 

Kitchen-Boiler  Arrangement  in  a  New  York  Residence.     One  Ilhtstration  66 

Kitchen  Boilers  in  Residence  of  George  Vanderbilt,  Esq.      One  Illustration 23 

Marble  Plunge  Bath  in  a  Private  Residence.     Six  Illustrations 17 

Plumbing  Details  in  R.  P.  Flower's  Residence,  New  York.     Four  Illustrations 20 

Plumbing  iu  a  Country  Residence  at  Seabright,  N.  ].     Ten  Illustrations 36 

Plumbing  in  a  New  England  Residence.     Three  Illustrations , 67 

Plumbing  in  a  New  York  Bathroom.     Seven  Illustrations 24 

Plumbing  in  a  New  York  Residence.     Seven  Illustrations 13 

Plumbing  in  a  New  York  City  Residence.     Fourteen  Illustrations 40 

Plumbing  in  John  D.  Rockefeller's  House  at  Tarrytown,  N.  Y.     Eleven  Ilhistrations 26 

Plumbing  in  C.  P.  Huntington's  Residence.     Seventeen  Illustrations 44 

Plumbing  in  Seventy-second  Street  Houses,  New  York.     Nine  Illustrations 32 

Plumbing  in  the  Residence  of  Elbridge  T.  Gerry.     Nine  Illustrations 29 

Some  Plumbing  Details  in  the  Residence  of  John  J.  Astor.     Three  Illustrations , . . .  53 

Some  Plumbing  Details  in  a  Washington  Residence.     Five  Illustrations 15 

Some  Plumbing  in  Boston.     Four  Illustrations 21 

Water  Supply  in  the  House  of  Mr.  Cornelius  Vanderbilt.     Twenty  Illustrations ,   55 


PLUMBING  OF  HOTELS. 

Hot  and  Cold  Water  System  in  a  Milwaukee  Hotel.     One  Illustration 88 

Plumbing  Details  in  an  Omaha  Hotel.     Five  Illustrations in 

Plumbing  Details  in  the  Plaza  Hotel,  New  York,     Twenty-seven  Illustrations 93 

Plumbing  in  the  Holland  House,  New  York.     Ten  Illustrations. ...   89 

Plumbing  in  the  Lakewood,  N.  J.,  Hotel.     Eleven  Illustrations ...... 78 

Plumbing  in  the  New  Coates  House,  Kansas  City,  Mo.     Twenty-one  Illustrations 82 

Plumbing  in  the  New  Netherland  Hotel.     Nineteen  Illustrations  98 

Plumbing  in  the  Waldorf  Hotel.     Ten  Illustrations  ...     71 

Remodeling  an  Elaborate  Water  System  in  a  Hotel.     Three  Illustrations ...  109 


PLUMBING  OF  HOSPITALS. 

Plumbing  in  a  New  York  Infirmary.     Eight  Illustrations „ 113 

Plumbing  in  the  Isabella  Home,  New  York.     Ten  Illustrations 19 


VI  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

PLUMBING  IN  OFFICE  BUILDINGS. 

Automatic  Subsewer  Drainage  in  Large  Buildings.     Five  Illustrations 160 

Control  of  Hot  and  Cold  Water  Distribution  in  a  Milwaukee  Office  Building.     One  I/lustration 142 

Pipe  Systems  and  Pressure  Tests  in  the  Haveraeyer  Building.     Thirteen  Illustrations 130 

Plumbing  Details  in  the  Mechanics'  Bank  Building.     Five  Illustrations 136 

Plumbing  in  the  American  Surety  Building.     Nineteen  Illustrations 162 

Plumbing  in  the  Bank  of  America  Building,  New  York.     Eleven  Illustrations ...  149 

Plumbing  in  the  Constable  Building.     Fifteen  Illustrations 153 

Plumbing  in  Manhattan  Life  Insurance  Building.     Seven  Illustrations 143 

Plumbing  in  the  Metropolitan  Building.     Seven  Illustrations 122 

Plumbing  in  the  Presbyterian  Building.     Three  Illustrations j  72 

Plumbing  in  the  Prudential  Building,  Newark,  N.  J.     One  Illustration 141 

Plumbing  in  the  Union  Trust  Company's  Building.     Seven  Illustrations.  138 

Plumbing  in  the  Wainwright  Building,  St.  Louis,  Mo.     Fourteen  Illustrations 127 


PLUMBING  IN  AMUSEMENT  HALLS  AND  PUBLIC  BUILDINGS. 

Plumbing  in  the  Madison  Square  Garden,  New  York.     Nine  Illustrations 176 

Plumbing  in  the  Railroad  Men's  Reading-Room,  New  York.     Nine  Illustrations 180 

Plumbing  in  the  Union  Depot  at  St.  Louis.     Nine  Illustrations 178 

PLUMBING  IN  THEATERS. 

A  Theater  Fire-Pressure  System.     One  Illustration 190 

Plumbing  Details  in  a  New  York  Theater.     Three  Illustrations  ...„ igi 

Plumbing  in  the  Fifth  Avenue  Theater,  New  York.     Fifteen  Illustrations c . .  184 


PLUMBING  OF  SWIMMING  AND  RAIN  BATHS. 

Baths  of  the  New  York  Athletic  Club.     Two  Illustrations , .  193 

European  Rain  Baths.     Six  Illustrations 197 

Plumbing  of  a  Swimming  Bath.     Seven  Illustrations ...  194 

Public  Baths  in  New  York  City.     Twelve  Illustrations 200 

Special  Baths  in  St.  Vincent's  Hospital.     Four  Illustrations 206 


MISCELLANEOUS: 

Adjustable  Control  of  Church  Gaslights.     Two  Illustrations 218 

An  Automatic  Duplex-Connected  House  Pump.     Four  Illustrations 220 

An  Automatic  Gas  Engine  Cut-Off.     Two  Illustrations ...  223 

Drainage  Blunders.     Thirteen  Illustrations „ , 209 

Essential  Requirements  for  the  Gas  Piping  of  Buildings 208 

Gas  Piping  for  Buildings 207 

Paris  Bathcarts 217 

Plumbing  of  a  Barber  Shop  in  Boston.     Two  Illustrations 222 

Principles  to  be  Observed  in  Planning  and  Specifying  for  a  Country  House.     One  Illustration 214 


NOTES  AND  QUERIES  ON  PLUMBING  OF  SWIMMING  BATHS. 

Fuel  Required  in  Heating  a  Swimming  Bath 225 

Heating  a  Swimming  Bath  Problem 225 

Size  of  Pip«  for  Heating  of  a  Swimming  Pool  by  Steam 225 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS.  VH 

NOTES  AND  QUERIES  ON  HOT- WATER  SUPPLY. 

Air- Bound  Piping.     Two  Illustrations 226 

Coil  Heating  of  a  Bath  Supply.     One  Illustration 227 

Equalizing  the  Flow  in  a  Domestic  Water  Service.     One  Illustration 229 

Materials  for  Doors  of  Turkish  Baths 227 

Size  for  House-Service  Pipe  Wanted 227 

The  Flow  of  Water  in  Pipes 228 

To  Keep  Cold- Water  Pipes  from  Sweating 227 

To  Make  a  Cellar  Wall  Water-Tight 229 

Water  Supply  for  a  Country  House "228 


NOTES  AND  QUERIES  ON  HOUSE-DRAINAGE  PROBLEMS. 

An  Experience  with  Sewer  Gas  Due  to  the  Closing  of  the  Top  of  the  Soil  Pipe  by  Frost 230 

Arrangement  of  a  Group  of  Closets.     Two  Illustrations 244 

Arrangement  of  Trap  Vents.     Three  Illustrations 237 

Arranging  Fresh-Air  Inlets  to  Prevent  Freezing  of  Traps 233 

Artificial  Heat  in  Vent  Pipes 239 

As  to  Main  House  Traps  and  Separate  Sewer  Connections 236 

Back  Pressure  in  a  Seaside  Cottage  Drain -{ 234 

Badly  Designed  Plumbing  in  a  New  York  House.     One  Illustration 230 

Cause  of  Stoppage  on  a  House  Drain.     One  Illustration 242 

Deposit  of  Rust  in  the  Bend  of  a  Soil  Pipe.     Two  Illustrations  .„ 243 

Disposal  of  House  Waste  in  Tight  Clay  Soil 231 

Does  Discharge  of  Steam  into  Earthern  Drains  Injuriously  Affect  Them 237 

Expansion  of  Soil- Pipe  Line.     One  Illustration ....   244 

Frozen  Roof  Conductor  Pipes 233 

House  Connections  on  Pipe  Sewers 230 

Joining  an  Iron  and  Earthenware  Drain      Five  Illustrations 240 

Method  of  Pouring  Lead  in  Making  Iron  Water-Pipe  Joints 243 

Method  of  Testing  Plumbing  in  Minneapolis.     One  Illustration 239 

Obstruction  of  a  Vent  Pipe.    One  Illustration 235 

Running  a  Vent  Pipe  into  a  Smoke  Flue 237 

Size  of  Pipe  Required  to  Drain  a  Field * 232 

Subsoil  Drainage  of  House  Foundations.     Three  Illustrations 241 

The  Back  Venting  of  Closet  Traps  . .   238 

The  Proper  Size  for  a  House  Sewer  232 

The  Use  of  Grease  Traps 231 

To  Prevent  Tar-Coating  from  Showing  through  Paint  on  Soil  Pipes 233 

Traps  at  Foot  of  Lines  of  Soil  Pipe 233 

Traps  on  House  Drains 235 

Traps  on  House  Drain  at  Newton,  Mass 236 

Trouble  with  Back  Water.     One  Illustration 245 

Ventilation  of  a  Soil  Pipe.     One  Illustration 234 

Venting  Traps  into  Fresh-Air  Inlets.     Two  Illustrations 232 

Which  is  the  Best  Method  of  Connecting  House  Drain  to  Sewer  ? 239 


NOTES  AND  QUERIES  ON  DOMESTIC  HOT- WATER  SUPPLY  PROBLEMS. 

An  Interchangeable  Hot  and  Cold  Water  System  for  Kitchen  and  Laundry.     One  Illustration 247 

A  Question  of  Hot- Water  Circulation.     Two  Illustrations 247 

Can  a  Boiler  be  Successfully  Connected  with  a  Stove  at  a  Distance  by  Running  the  Pipes  on  the  Ceiling 
and  Below  the  Floor  ? 249 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

Connection  of  Kitchen  Boilers  to  Prevent  Syphonage.     One  Illustration 248 

Fitting  Up  a  Kitchen  Boiler  to  Prevent  Syphonage.     One  Illustration 250 

Hot-Water  Boiler  with  Hot-Water  Heating  Coil.     One  Illustration 246 

Indirect  Heating  for  a  Large  Kitchen  Boiler.     One  Illustration 246 

Temperature  Observations  of  Hot- Water  Pipes 249 

The  Joints  of  Pipes  to  a  Kitchen  Boiler 249 

Two  Much  Coil  for  Heating  the  Boiler.     One  Illustration 248 

Trouble  with  a  Water-Bad*  250 


NOTES  AND  QUERIES  ON  CIRCULATION  FROM  KITCHEN  BOILERS. 

A  Loop  above  and  a  Circuit  below  a  Hot-Water  Boiler.     Two  Illustrations 254 

An  Error  in  Connecting  a  Double  Boiler.     One  Illustration 257 

A  Suspended  Kitchen  Boiler.     One  Illustration 251 

Defective  Hot-Water  Circulation.    One  Illustration 257 

Drawing  Cold  water  from  Hot- Water  Pipe.     One  Illustration 251 

Heating  a  Boiler  from  Two  Water-Backs.    One  Illustration 255 

Hot- Water  Circulation  in  a  Greenhouse.      One  Illustration .» . . .  253 

Hot- Water  Circulation  Question.    One  Illustration '. 258 

Hot  Water  from  the  Return  Pipes 254 

Placing  an  Ordinary  Kitchen  Boiler  in  a  Horizontal  Position.     One  Illustration 251 

Rumbling  in  a  Kitchen  Boiler.    One  Illustration , 258 

Steam  and  Range  Water-Back  on  Kitchen  Boiler  at  Hampton,  Va.    One  Illustration 257 

Tank-Water  Supply  for  a  Kitchen  Boiler 253 

Trouble  with  a  Hot-Water  Supply  Boiler.    One  Illustration 256 

Trouble  with  a  Kitchen  and  Laundry  Boiler  System.    One  Illustration 252 

Water  Wasted  through  Improper  Arrangement  of  Boiler  Vent  and  Tank  Overflow.     One  Illustra- 
tion   259 

What  Cracked  the  Water-Back  and  Caused  the  Rumbling  Noise.     One  Illustration 255 

Why  Water  is  Milky  when  First  Drawn ^ 259 


PLUMBING  OF  RESIDENCES. 


DRAINAGE  AND  WATER  SUPPLY  OF  A 
HARTFORD   HOUSE. 

(PUBL  SHED   IN    1892.) 

IN  the  recently  finished  house  of  C.  K.  Forrest, 
Esq  ,  Hartiord,  Conn.,  of  which  Andrews,  Jacques 
&  Rantoul,  of  Boston,  were  the  architects,  and 
Albert  L.  Webster,  Assoc.  M.  Am.  Soc.  C.  E.,  of 
New  York,  was  the  sanitary  engineer,  the  general 


plans  for  the  drainage  and  water-supply  systems 
were  carefully  drawn  to  a  scale  of  one  forty-eighth, 
and  showed  the  correct  position  and  length  of  all 
pipe  lines,  their  sizes  and  principal  fittings.  Ac- 
curate detail  drawings  were  also  made  of  special  or 
complicated  arrangements,  and  diagrams  of  each 
room  bearing  marginal  specifications,  notes  for  all 
fixtures,  workmanship,  and  details  required  there, 


•KEY 

nd  Cfo7d '  ffyfer 
Jfof  Wotergoiler  CircvaHo 
Soil 'dnd \Sener Pipes 
Ti/eJ)rain  Pipe    • 


\-d~Brirk  Pirr 


DRAINAGE  AND  WATER  SUPPLY  OF  A  HARTFORD,    CONN  ,   HOUSE. 


10 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


///r  Mffppj/  ffuny  uoo<j 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


were  also  furnished  by  the  engineer  to  the  con- 
tractors. The  requirements  and  specifications  were 
thus  made  unmistakable,  and  were  neatly  and  con- 
veniently incorporated  with  the  plans.  All  main 
drains  were  run  on  side  walls,  and  supported  on 
brick  piers,  and  had  direct  vertical  columns  to  fix- 
tures above.  Main  cold-water  pipes  were  run  on 
the  basement  ceiling,  with  risers  following  the  soil 
columns.  The  hot-water  circulation  pipe  Z,  Fig.  2, 
was  carried  in  a  covered  safe  trough  along  the  attic 
floor.  All  pipes  are  accessible,  generally  exposed, 
and  have  numbered  tags,  corresponding  to  a  diagram, 
attached  to  all  their  main  cocks  and  valves.  All 
parts  of  all  soil  and  drain  pipes  are  commanded  by 
suitably  located  cleanout  holes. 

Figure  i  is  a  general  cellar  plan  and  Fig.  2  a 
vertical  section  and  elevation  of  the  house.  As  will 
be  seen  by  the  key  on  Figs,  i  and  2,  hot  and  cold 
water  pipes  are  here  indicated  by  light  full  lines, 
circulation  hot-water  pipes  by  a  line  broken  by  two 
dots,  soil  pipe  and  sewer  pipe  by  heavy  full  black, 
and  tile  drain  by  heavy  broken  lines.  In  the  original 
drawings,  from  which  we  have  prepared  these  illus- 
trations, these  different  lines  were  respectively 


shown  by  single  full  blue  lines,  single  full  red  lines, 
double  full  blue  lines  washed  with  red,  and  full 
heavy  green  lines.  On  the  original  drawings  tags 
6,  10,  and  14  designate  special  valves  regulating  the 
hot- water  circulation  flow;  all  others  designate  ordi- 
nary stop  cocks,  or  a  few  globe  valves.  Numbers  18 
and  25  empty  the  hot-water  supply  system  and  the 
cold  supply  to  the  cold  kitchen  boiler,  and  are  so 
noted  on  the  drawings. 


Subsoil  // 

SECTION  C-D 


.  JO 


SECTION  A-B. 


In  the  detail  drawings  for  this  work  special  pains 
were  taken  to  furnish  detailed  information  of  the 
work  on  the  general  plans  and  diagrams  (similar  to 
Fig.  3)  of  each  room,  were  accompanied  by  written 
notes,  in  which  each  fitting  or  fixture  was  named, 
the  method  of  fitting  prescribed,  and  the  character 
of  all  the  details  and  work  concerned  was  stated. 
Obviously  this  is  of  great  advantage  where  the  engi- 
neer or  architect  has  to  rely  upon  a  distant  con- 
tractor with  whom  he  cannot  be  in  daily  communica- 
tion. It  leaves  nothing  to  be  assumed  and  saves  the 
very  frequent  embarrassment  of  permitting  violations 
of  the  specifications  to  stand,  or  of  having  work 
pulled  out  after  it  is  once  erected. 

Figure  4  shows  the  plan  of  the  third-floor  bath- 
room as  originally  arranged,  with  one  door  D  into 
ante-room  E,  wnich  communicated  by  the  open 
doorways  A  A  with  the  principal  chambers  B  and 
the  servants'  quarters  C.  This  plan  made  the  room 
so  crowded  that  it  was  modified,  as  shown  in  Fig.  5, 
where  the  washbowl  was  set  on  brackets  and  double 
doors  DJ  DJ  were  set,  so  that  when  they  were  opened 
to  the  positions  D1  D1  they  closed  the  portals  A  A, 
and  practically  added  the  ante-room  E  to  tile  bath- 
room. Figure  6  shows  the  connections  to  soil  column 
O  (Fig.  i),  and  Fig.  7  shows  the  slopsinks  at  the 
second  and  third  floors  on  soil  column  D  (Fig.  2). 
Figure  8  shows  vertical  and  horizontal  sections  of 
the  outside  manhole  Y,  Fig.  i,  which  gives  access  to 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


the  running  trap  T  of  the  main  sewer  pipe  and  to 
the  several  cleanout  holes  at  this  point.  Figure  9 
is  a  horizontal  and  a  vertical  section  of  the  brick 
sump  X,  Fig.  i,  which  contains  the  traps  for  subsoil 
drains  laid  under  the  cellar  floor.  The  sewer  air  is 
cut  off  by  an  ordinary  running  trap  T,  which  is 
vented  by  an  open  handhole  H,  and  an  additional 
hole  trap  S  is  put  in  to  prevent  back-flow  of  sewage 
into  the  subsoil  drain  in  case  of  stoppage  in  the 
house  drain  beyond  the  point  where  the  subsoil  drain 
joins  it.  The  opening  between  the  two  traps  and 
the  bolt  in  the  iron  cover  would  permit  the  back-flow 
to  come  out  on  the  cellar  floor  and  make  it  known 
that  there  is  a  stoppage  in  the  house  drain. 

Figure  10  shows  details  of  the  automatic  supply  to 
the  furnace  pan  at  Z,  Fig.  i,  in  connection  with  a 
supply  to  the  subsoil  trap  just  described.  Water  is 
admitted  to  the  receiving  tank  B,  through  ball  cock 
A,  and  is  always  replenished  when  its  level  falls  be- 
low Z  Z.  Every  time  the  ball  cock  opens  a  little  ex- 
cess of  water  is  received,  which  discharges  through 
the  overflow  D  and  seals  the  subsoil  traps  S  and  T, 
Fig.  9.  Overflow  D  has  a  bent  inlet  C,  so  as  to  pre- 
serve a  water  seal  of  about  2  inches  against  the 
cellar  air  from  the  trap.  The  water  pan  in  the  fur- 
nace being  connected  with  the  supply  tank  below  the 
water  surface,  prevents  dust  and.  air  from  the  cellar 
entering  the  furnace.  A  small  loss  of  water  by 
evaporation  opens  the  ball  cock  and  fills  the  tank 


and  furnace  pan,  at  the  same  time  giving  a  small 
supply  to  the  subsoil  traps  through  the  pipe  D. 

Robert  Garvie,  of  Hartford,  was  the  plumber,  and 
the  work  was  done  by  day's  labor. 


PLUMBING  IN  A  NEW  YORK  RESIDENCE. 

(PUBLISHED  IN  1892.) 

THE  plumbing  in  the  residence  of  R.  A.  C.  Smith, 
Esq.,  in  West  Seventy-second  Street,  New  York 
City,  of  which  Mr.  Smith  himself  was  the  architect, 
was  executed  by  John  Renehan,  of  New  York  City, 
and  conforms  to  the  current  practice  in  careful  metro- 
politan work.  It  has,  however,  special  provision  for 
local  vents,  for  the  disconnection  of  the  sewer  system 
for  an  interchangeable  service  of  the  kitchen  and 
laundry  boilers,  and  some  other  details  and  arrange- 
ments. Some  of  the  these  may  be  held  to  illustrate 
one  of  many  practical  solutions  of  the  general  prob- 
lem which  is  more  or  less  modified  in  the  familiar  re- 
quirements and  conditions  of  all  large  cities,  and  is 
similarly  handled  by  different  designers.  Each  de- 
signer may  have  a  particular  style,  excel  in  some 
individual  detail,  or  more  carefully  provide  for 
emergencies  or  conditions  generally  neglected 
Thus,  while  no  important  part  of  the  work  under 
consideration  may  be  said  to  be  novel,  it  has  an  in- 
dividuality, and  the  frequent  description  of  different 
instances  of  the  same  standard  class  of  work  empha- 


AGL 


PLUMBING  IN  A  NEW  YORK   RESIDENCE. 


14 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


sizes  its  important  features  and  may  be  held  to  be 
suggestive  of  combinations,  variations,  and  possible 
merits  or  faults  which,  although  they  may  seem 
evident  in  the  finished  work,  are  not  accomplished 
without  study  and  the  aid  of  comparison. 

The  house  is  a  brownstone  building  about  25  feet 
front  and  four  stories  high  above  the  basement. 
The  plumbing  comprises  a  sink  in  the  cellar,  laundry 
boiler  and  three  tubs,  kitchen  boiler  and  sink,  a  ser- 
vants' water-closet  and  bath  in  the  basement,  a 
toilet-room  with  urinal  and  hot  and  cold  water  wash- 
bowl, a  butlers'  pantry  sink  and  plate  warmer  on  the 
first  floor,  a  bathroom  with  water-closet  and  wash- 
basin and  two  washstands  on  both  the  second  and 
third  floors,  and  a  i.ooo-gallon  storage  tank,  a  maids' 
slopsink  and  a  washbasin  on  the  fourth  floor.  The 


soil  pipes  are  of  calked  cast  iron  and  the  vents  and 
water  pipes  are  of  screwed  galvanized  iron,  except 
where  they  are  exposed  in  the  upper  stories,  where 
all  the  metal-work  is  silver-plated.  All  the  soil  and 
vent  pipes  were  subjected  to  the  water  and  smoke 
test.  The  trap  vents  are  carried  above  the  over- 
flows, and  all  the  soil  pipes  and  traps  are  accessible 
through  screw  caps,  Y's,  etc.  for  cleaning. 

A  diagram  plan  of  the  hot  and  cold-water  pipes  on 
the  basement  ceiling  is  shown  in  Fig.  i.  Here  B  is 
the  kitchen  boiler  and  B1  the  laundry  boiler,  C  is  the 
main  cold-water  supply,  R  R1  ranges,  L  L  L  laundry 
tubs,  V  and  V1  local  vent  pipes,  T  T1  and  T-  are 
trap  vents,  H  H1  hot  water  from  the  boilers,  E  E1 
hot-water  circulation  pipes,  A  and  G  hot  water  and 
circulation  connections  between  boilers,  R  R1  and 


PLUMBING   IN   A   NEW   YORK    RESIDENCE. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


R*  are  risers,  S  the  kitchen  sink,  F  and  F1  smoke 
flues,  and  D  and  D1  ventilation  ducts. 

In  the  perspective  of  the  hot-water  circulation  sys- 
tem, Fig.  2,  I  and  I1  are  sediment  pipes,  J  is  a  cold- 
water  supply,  L  is  a  check  valve  opening  upward,  K 
is  a  cleanout,  M  is  a  receiver,  and  O  is  a  ventilating 
register  to  the  duct  D1.  The  other  reference  letters 
have  the  same  significance  as  in  Fig.  i.  and  in  both 
figures  the  water  pipes  are  shown  by  single  heavy 
lines,  the  trap  vents  by  broken  single  lines,  and  the 
local  vents  by  double  lines. 

By  the  location  of  the  smoke  flues  F  F1  adjacent  to 
the  ventilation  ducts  D  D1  it  is  intended  to  promote 
circulation  in  the  ducts  by  radiation  of  heat  from  the 
flues.  Pipe  V  is  commanded  by  cleanout  K  and  ter- 
minates in  an  open  receiver-bell  M,  beneath  which  a 
gas  jet  heats  the  air  and  causes  it  to  be  drawn  out  of 
the  servants'  bathroom  just  above  the  water-closet 
seat.  Pipe  V1  terminates  in  a  tin  box  set  in  a  wall 
flue  in  the  first-floor  toilet-room.  This  box,  access- 
ible through  a  glass  door,  contains  a  gas  flame  and 
has  an  open  pipe  at  the  bottom  through  which  air  is 
drawn  up  through  the  urinal  bowl. 

Although  the  house  is  provided  with  a  storage 
tank  for  future  need,  if  required,  it  is  at  present 
unnecessary,  as  the  city  pressure  is  sufficient,  and 
the  double  laundry  boiler  is  connected  up  for  a  single 
pressure,  though  it  is  so  connected  with  the  kitchen 
boiler  that  either  of  them  could  be  used  under  street 
and  the  other  under  tank  pressure,  and  they  could 
work  separately  or  alone  to  supply  the  basement  and 
upper  floors. 

The  arrangement  by  which  one  pipe  A  is  made  to 
serve  for  supply  and  delivery  for  the  tank  is  shown 
in  Fig.  3.  The  filling  is  through  branch  B  and  a  ball 
cock,  and  the  drawing  is  through  the  same  city 
pressure  or  pump  pipe,  and  the  U  branch  C,  which 
is  made  to  have  an  upward  flowing  current  so  that 
the  check  valve  D  closing  downward  will  prevent  any 
discharge  of  water  from  A,  and  the  consequent  over- 
flowing of  the  tank  through  its  delivery. 

The  chamber  washbasins  are  situated  in  pairs  be- 
tween the  front  and  rear  rooms,  and  their  arrange- 
ment is  shown  In  Fig.  4.  Valves  A  and  B  are  set  in 
the  waste  and  vent  pipes  respectively,  and  are  in- 
tended to  be  closed  when  the  rooms  are  left  long 
disused,  so  that  by  this  means  all  danger  of  sewer 
connections  through  broken  trap  seals  is  obviated. 
If  any  obstruction  occurs  in  the  waste,  it  is  likely  to 
be  at  or  above  the  trap,  and  if,  as  is  frequently  the 
case,  it  is  due  to  gummy  accretions  on  the  internal 
surface,  valves  A  and  B  can  be  closed  and  the  pipes 
filled  up  to  the  top  of  the  overflow  with  a  strong 
potash  solution,  which  will  usually  cut  them  out 
clean.  • 

The  fresh-air  inlet  for  the  main  house  trap  is  on 
the  walk  near  the  curb  in  the  front  area  and  is  shown 
in  Fig.  5,  A  being  the  inlet  and  T  the  trap.  The 
pipe  terminates  in  an  open  vertical  leg  about  12 
inches  long,  which  is  set  in  a  brick  well  W  and  pro- 
tected by  an  iron  grating  B,  removable  by  turning 
hook  C  with  a  key.  The  well  W  may  collect  con- 
siderable dirt  and  rubbish  without  obstructing  the 


inlet.  The  main  trap  T  is  commanded  by  cleanout 
D,  and  the  house  sewer  from  the  trap  to  the  street 
sewer  is  commanded  by  another  cleanout  E.  A 
little  way  above  trap  T,  Fig.  5,  the  house  sewer,  in 
following  the  cellar  wall,  had  to  be  carried  through 
the  cold-air  chamber  Z,  of  the  ventilation  system, 
and  as  this  room  is  exposed  to  a  current  of  the  coldest 
external  air,  a  special  masonry  wall  W,  Fig.  6,  was 
there  built  up  around  it  to  protect  it  and  an  extra 
cleanout  R  was  provided  to  command  the  built-in 
pipe. 

The  details  of  support  for  the  main  house  sewer 
pipe  F,  Figs.  5  and  6,  are  shown  in  Fig.  7.  The  pipe 
is  carried  in  wrought-iron  yokes  G,  which  are  screwed 
into  sections  of  old  pipe  H,  which,  with  the  cast 
flanges  I,  make  solid  pillars  easily  cut  to  any  desired 
length.  Where  pipe  F  is  near  the  wall,  brickbats  J 
are  filled  in  alongside  and  plastered  over  to  form  a 
smooth  sloping  top  K,  which  presents  a  neat  finish 
and  prevents  the  lodgment  of  dirt  and  rubbish. 


SOME    PLUMBING    DETAILS    IN    A    WASH- 
INGTON  RESIDENCE. 

(PUBLISHED  IN   1891  ) 

WE  illustrate  herewith  some  of  the  details  of 
recent  plumbing-work  in  a  new  house  at  Massachu- 
setts Avenue  and  Twentieth  Street,  Washington. 
D.  C.,  that,  without  being  novel  or  remarkable, 
indicates  the  style  and  character  of  plumbing  exe- 
cuted in  some  of  the  new  work  of  construction  which 
i->  now  rapidly  increasing  in  Washington. 

Figure  i  is  a  view  of  the  kitchen  and  laundry 
boilers.  The  supply  from  street  mains  is  through 
pipe  A,  with  branch  B  to  pipe  F  for  direct  house 
supply,  and  C  to  the  filter  D,  through  which  all  the 
water  usually  passes  and  is  delivered,  through 
branches  G  and  E,  to  the  kitchen  sink  S  and  the 
general  supply  F.  I  is  the  supply  to  the  kitchen 
boiler  J,  which  delivers  hot  water  through  pipe  H, 
with  branches  K  to  the  kitchen  sink  and  L  to  the 
laundry  boiler  N.  M  is  the  hot-water  circulation 
pipe,  connected  by  branch  O  to  the  laundry  boiler, 
and  with  circulation  pipe  P  to  the  kitchen  range  Q. 
R  is  the  sediment  pipe  for  emptying  boiler  J. 

The  laundry  boiler  N  is  supplied  through  pipe  T 
and  can  be  emptied  by  pipe  X.  It  is  heated  from  a 
laundry  stove  W  by  circulation  pipes  V  V,  and 
delivers  hot  water  through  pipe  U  to  the  laundry 
tub  and  a  servants'  bathtub.  It  supplies  also  a  dis- 
tribution pipe  for  the  rear  part  of  the  second  floor. 
It  is  connected  with  kitchen  boiler  J  by  pipe  L.  Y  Y 
are  pipes  supplying  hot  and  cold  water  to  a  first- 
floor  basin  L  L  are  supplies  to  an  upper  bathroom, 
and  O  is  a  branch  connecting  the  circulation  pipe 
M  to  the  laundry-stove  water-back. 

Ordinarily  boiler  J  alone  is  heated,  and  branches 
L  L  and  Y  Yare  supplied  from  it.  When,  however, 
boiler  N  is  in  use,  its  supply  may  be  supplemented 
by  boiler  J.  Z  Z  are  drips  for  emptying  rising  lines. 
Generally,  valve  a  is  closed  and  b  and  c  are  open, 
so  that  the  whole  supply  passes  through  the  filter 
D.  Reversing  these  valves  cuts  out  the  filter,  which 


16 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


17 


can  be  washed  out  by  reversing  lever  d  and  opening 
valves  f  and  g. 

Figure  2  is  a  perspective  view  of  the  sunken  bath- 
tub in  the  private  toilet-room,  which  is  in  a  second- 
story  bay  window.  Figure  3  shows  the  setting  and 
support  of  the  tub  and  arrangement  of  supply  and 
waste  pipe,  etc.  T  is  a  tank  of  ^-inch  iron,  about 
7x4x3  feet  deep,  supported  on  projecting  joist,  and 
secured  to  the  main  floor  joist  J  J  by  wrought-iron 
hooks  H  H.  S  is  the  soil  pipe  receiving  waste 
W  W,  etc.  from  bath,  basin  B,  and  water-closet. 
V  V  V  are  2-inch  vent  pipes,  branched  from  4-inch 
stack  W,  which  extends  above  the  roof.  Z  is  a  4x8- 
inch  galvanized-iron  local  vent  duct,  which  is  shown 
in  dotted  lines  in  Fig.  2  and  ventilates  the  bathroom 
through  register  R.  G  is  a  gas  jet  to  promote  a 
constant  circulation.  A  is  a  steam  coil  to  prevent 
freezing  in  the  chamber  C,  which  is  lined  with  gal- 
vanized iron. 

Figure  4  shows  one  corner  of  the  bathtub  T,  Figs. 
2  and  3.  A  is  the  riveted  iron  tank,  B  B  B  the  in- 
side and  outside  tiled  surface,  F  the  cement  setting; 
D  a  layer  of  brick;  E  is  the  inlet  cock  with  hot  and 
cold  handles  H  and  C  respectively,  G  is  a  marble 
top,  and  I  is  the  overflow  pipe,  which  can  be  raised 
and  hung  on  hook  K,  to  empty  the  tub  through 
waste  pipe  L. 

Figure  6  shows  the  detail  of  connection  of  waste, 
etc.  A,  B,  D,  F,  J,  and  L  are  the  same  as  in  Fig.  4. 
The  brass  overflow  pipe  fits  closely  into  the  brass 
ferrule  N,  and  is  supported  from  its  upper  flange  by 
the  rubber  wing  N,  which  is  confined  by  the  shoul- 
der M.  Ferrule  N  screws  into  brass  sleeve  O,  which 
is  finally  secured  by  its  top  flange  and  the  jam  nut 


P.  Another  ferrule  Q  is  secured  to  O,  and  con- 
nected to  the  2- inch  lead  waste  pipe  L  by  a  wiped 
joint  R. 

The  plumbing  was  executed  by  Reynolds  &  Mur- 
phy, of  Washington,  and  is  comprised  chiefly  in  one 
laundry-room,  one  servants'  water-closet  and  bath- 
room, one  butler's  pantry,  two  tiled  bathrooms,  one 
chambermaid's  sink-room,  one  dressing-room,  and 
the  kitchen  A  private  6-inch  iron  sewer  runs  out- 
side three  sides  of  the  house  and  receives  all  leaders 
and  soil  pipes.  Harvey  Page,  of  Washington,  was 
the  architect  of  the  house,  and  John  S.  Larcombe 
the  builder. 


MARBLE  PLUNGE  BATH  IN  A  PRIVATE 
RESIDENCE. 

(PUBLISHED  IN    1893.) 

THE  following  description  illustrates  an  arrange- 
ment of  a  sunken  bath  lately  executed  by  Mr.  Paul 
S.  Bolger  in  a  residence  in  Fifty-eighth  Street,  New 
York  City.  Figure  i  is  a  perspective  view  of  the 
owner's  private  bathroom,  which  is  floored  and 
wainscoted  with  white  marble  and  contains  a  420- 
gallon  sunken  bathtub,  or  pool,  which  is  lined  with 
polished  white  marble  slabs.  It  is  entered  by  two 
steps  at  S,  descending  from  the  floor  level.  The 
principal  clear  dimensions  of  the  bath  are  7'x3'x3' 
deep,  with  an  overflow  set  to  permit  a  depth  of 
about  32  inches  of  water.  Hot  and  cold  water  sup- 
plies are  brought  up  through  the  floor  at  A  A,  and 
passing,  as  indicated  by  the  arrows,  through  pipes 
H  and  C  respectively,  are  carried  behind  the  wall 
panels  to  the  dolphin's  head  D.  From  the  dolphin's 


\      '       THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD 


\L. 


MARBLE   PLUNGE  BATH   IN   A   PRIVATE   RESIDENCE. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


Fis.2 


THI  CNCiNltmNC  RECORD.® 


MARBLE   PLUNGE   BATH   IN   A   PRIVATE   RESIDENCE. 


mouth  the  stream  is  delivered  which  fills  the  tub. 
Pipes  C  and  H  form  part  of  the  silver  plated  brass 
posts  and  rails  which  inclose  and  protect  the  pool. 
The  dolphin's  head  delivery  is  controlled  by  valves 
E  E,  which  are  within  easy  reach  of  an  occupant  of 
the  bath.  Valves  F  F  command  the  shower  bath, 
the  connections  of  which  are  so  arranged  that  the 
hot  water  must  pass  through  the  cold-water  valve, 
as  shown  in  diagram,  Fig.  2,  thus  insuring  the  cer- 
tainty of  cold  water  being  mixed  with  any  hot  that 
may  be  drawn  through  the  shower.  Cold  water 
may  be  delivered  by  the  shower,  but  not  hot  water 
alone.  If  the  shower  hot  valve  only  be  opened,  no 
delivery  follows,  nor  can  it  be  secured  until  the 
cold  valve  also  is  opened,  thus  preventing  any  pos- 
sibility of  scalding  the  bather.  G,  Fig.  i,  is  the 
handle  of  the  waste  and  overflow  for  the  bath,  and 
Fig.  3  is  a  detail  showing  how  it  passes  through  a 
hollow  ring  I,  which  carries  the  cold  water  from  one 
length  to  another  of  the  supply  pipe  rail  C.  The 
lower  rail  sections  K  K  do  not  serve  as  water  pipes 
and  are  connected  by  ordinary  nipples  to  a  solid 
guide  ring  J,  through  which  the  vertical  pipe  slips 
freely.  Figure  4  shows  the  arrangement  at  a  pan- 
try sink  between  two  chambers.  Here  a  square 
porcelain  sink  is  set  in  a  handsome  marble  slab  6 
feet  long,  which  extends  across  the  full  width  of  the 
alcove.  The  curtain  panel  in  front  is  only  about  6 
inches  deep,  and  the  slab  and  bowl  are  supported 
by  a  special  wrought-iron  frame,  shown  in  Figs. 
5  and  6,  which  clearly  show  in  perspective  and  cross- 
section  the  manner  of  bolting  the  2x2-inch  angle 
bars  to  the  wall  above  and  building  them  into  it 
below. 

The  hot  and  cold  water  supplies  were  brought  up 
behind  the  tiling  to  a  point  above  the  slab,  where 
they  are  brought  through  and  connected  to  angle 


pieces  N  N,  to  which  sink  faucets  L  L  are  attached, 
so  as  to  leave  an  unobstructed  surface  on  the  table 
slab,  and  incidentally  to  permit  the  placing  of  pitch- 
ers, etc.  beneath  the  faucets.  The  long  marble 
slab  of  the  kitchen  sink  is  supported  by  an  iron 
frame  similar  to  that  shown  in  Figs.  5  and  6. 


A  SPECIAL  BATHROOM. 

(PUBLISHED  IN   1891.) 

IN  making  recent  improvements  in  a  house  at  New 
York  City  the  owner  wished  to  utilize  a  very  small, 
narrow  room  for  a  bath  and  water-closet,  and  there- 
fore designed  the  arrangement  shown  here. 

Figure  i  is  a  plan  of  the  room,  showing  the  new 
position  of  the  water-closet  and  of  special  bath  B, 
with  shower  ring  S  and  needle  posts  N  N  N  N  The 
old  fixed  washstand  was  discarded  and  a  marble  side 
shelf  substituted  for  a  movable  bowl,  if  required. 
Sufficient  room  was  thus  obtained  for  toilet  and 
dressing  purposes,  and  for  shaving-cabinet,  gas 
stove,  etc. 

Figure  2  is  a  view  from  Z.  Fig.  i.  The  bath  B  is 
about  3'x4'xis"  deep,  the  bottom  A  A  being  raised 
about  9  inches  above  the  floor,  so  as  to  be  at  a  con- 
venient height  for  a  child  to  stand  upon  while  being 
bathed  by  a  person  seated  in  a  chair.  The  bathtub 
may  be  filled  with  water  up  to  level  P  P  of  the  over- 
flow O,  and  is  intended  as  a  tub  for  children  and  a 
shower  and  spray  for  adults.  S  is  a  i4-inch  ring 
shower,  and  N  N  N  N  are  water  tubes  perforated  for 
needle  sprays  that  pitch  toward  the  center  of  the  tub. 
Around  the  bath  the  room  is  paneled  8  feet  high  with 
Italian  marble  wainscoting;  elsewhere  it  is  6  feet 
high  all  around.  The  floor  is  also  marble-tiled  and 
the  tub  is  lined  with  marble.  All  the  pipes  and  fix- 
tures are  exposed  and  are  of  brass,  silver-plated. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


19 


BO 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


Water  under  both  street  and  tank  pressure  is  sup- 
plied to  the  room,  and  its  distribution  there  and  for 
the  upper  part  of  the  house  is  controlled  by  a  Mor- 
rison cut-off  M,  that  receives  cold  water  under  street 
and  tank  pressures  through  pipes  D  and  E,  and  de- 
livers it  through  C  and  its  horizontal  branches  C  and 
C',  and  receives  hot  water  under  street  and  tank 
pressures  through  P  and  G,  and  delivers  it  through 
H  and  its  horizontal  branches  H'  and  H'.     The  bath 
fixtures  are  supplied  with  hot  water  through  branch 
I,  the  delivery  to  the  needle  spray  N  N  N  N  being 
controlled  by  cock  K,  and  the  delivery  to  the  shower 
S  by  cock  L.     Branch   J   supplies   cold  water,  and 
cock  M  controls  its  delivery  to  the  needle  spray;  cock 
N  controls  its  delivery  to  the  shower.     The  needle 
sprays  are  supplied  through  pipes  Q  Q,  etc.,  and  the 
shower  ring  through  pipes  T  T.     Pipes  R  R,  etc.  are 
blanks,  merely  for  stiffening  braces;  U  is  a  rubber 
curtain;  W  W  are  drawcocks,  and  V  is  a  trap  screw 
for  cleaning  the  bath   waste.     The  bathtub  really 
consists  of  a  deep,  soldered,  lead  tray,  set  in  cement, 
and  with  a  cement  coating  all  over  inside,  in  which 
the  marble  surface  is  set.     The  marble  lining  itself 
would  probably  be  nearly  or  quite  water-tight,  but 
the  lead  pan  is  put  outside  to  give  absolute  assur- 
ance. 

Figure  3  is  a  section  through  the  side  of  the  tub, 
and  Fig.  4  is  a  section  through  the  front  of  it.  L  is 
the  eight-pound  lead  tray;  C  is  Portland  cement;  M 
M,  etc.  are  marble  slabs;  W  is  a  wooden  faceboard, 
and  A  is  a  4-inch  marble  cap.  The  overflow  stand- 
pipe  O  fits  into  the  waste  pipe  X,  with  a  ground 
joint  at  Y,  and  a  flange  Z  is  soldered  to  both  L  and 
X  to  prevent  leakage. 

This  work  was  done  by  Messrs.  Rossman  &  Bracken, 
New  York. 


L 


PLUMBING  DETAILS  IN  R.  P.  FLOWER'S 
RESIDENCE,  NEW  YORK. 

(PUBLISHED  IN  1891.) 

IN  a  recent  remodeling  of  Mr.  R.  P.  Flower's  resi- 
dence, at  New  York,  all  the  piping  and  many  of  the 


old  fixtures  were  replaced,  and  a  new  supply,  waste 
and  ventilation  system  were  adapted  to  the  existing 
construction  and  its  requirements.  The  following 
details  show  how  some  of  the  work  was  made  to  con- 
form to  the  necessities  encountered. 

Figure  i  shows  the  i.ooo-gallon  wooden  storage 
tank  T  in  the  attic.  It  is  filled  through  the  pump 
pipe  A,  or,  when  city  pressure  suffices,  through  the 
ball  cock  B.  C  and  D  are  circulation  and  relief  pipes 
from  the  high  and  low-pressure  boilers.  They  arc 
both  connected  to  the  check  valve  E  that  opens  with 
a  downward  current  and  lets  steam  escape,  but 
closes  with  an  upward  current,  thus  preventing 
escape  of  tank  water  through  it  by  syphonage.  G  is 
the  house  supply,  with  a  check  valve  H  that  closes 
with  a  downward  current  to  prevent  the  filling  and 
overflowing  of  the  tank  through  it  when  city  press- 
ure exceeds  tank  pressure.  I  is  a  lead  safe,  and  J  is 
a  soil  pipe  carried,  with  the  other  risers,  in  the  pipe 
shaft  K. 

Figure  2  shows  the  connections  of  the  gas-engine 
pump  A  and  hand  pump  B  in  the  subbasement.  C 


PLUMBING   DETAILS   IN   MR     R.    P     FLOWER'S   RESIDENCE,    NEW   YORK  CITY. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


21 


is  the  cold-water  supply  from  city  mains,  with 
"branches  D  and  E  for  the  suctions  to  hand  and  gas 
pumps  which  deliver  through  branches  G  and  H 
respectively  to  the  i^-inch  tank  pipe  F. 

Valve  I  is  usually  closed,  but  by  opening  it  riser  F 
may  be  drained  through  waste  pipe  J  into  the  drip 
sink  S.  K  is  a  cold-water  supply  to  sink,  M  is  a  2- 
inch  refrigerator  waste,  and  L  L,  etc.  are  drip  and 
safe  wastes,  all  provided  with  flap  valves  at  sink. 
N  is  a  gas  pipe  to  engine,  Q  is  an  air  chamber,  V  is 
a  vent  pipe,  O  O  are  soil  pipes,  and  P  is  main  6-inch 
house  sewer,  supported  on  iron  hooks  from  cellar 
wall  at  each  joint. 

Figure  3  shows  the  arrangement,  in  a  basement 
cupboard,  of  a  Tucker  grease  trap  T,  S  is  a  duct  up 
to  butler's  pantry,  C  is  a  2-inch  waste  from  butler's 
pantry  sink,  A  is  the  i-inch  supply  from  city  mains, 
B  is  the  i-inch  outlet  with  j^-inch  branch  E  to  butler's 
pantry  and  ^{-inch  branch  B  to  kitchen  sink,  F  is  the 
2-inch  waste,  and  G  the  ij^-inch  vent. 

Figure  4  shows  the  large  grease  trap  in  the  sub- 
basement  for  kitchen  waste,  B  is  the  i-inch  cold  sup- 
ply under  tank  pressure  with  branches  C  to  trap  and 
D  to  kitchen.  E  is  the  delivery  with  branches  F  to 
laundry,  H  to  servants'  water-closet,  and  G  to  first- 
floor  basins,  I  is  the  i>£-inch  waste  from  kitchen 
sink,  and  J  the  ly^-inch  outlet  to  sewer  K;  Lis  a  vent 
pipe. 

The  work  was  executed  by  John  Tourney  &  Son, 
of  New  York. 


SOME  PLUMBING  IN  BOSTON. 

(PUBLISHED  IN  1889.) 

SOME  interesting  plumbing  has  recently  been  done 
by  Henry  Hussey  &  Co.,  of  Boston,  in  a  large  build- 
ing in  that  city,  and  we  illustrate  seme  of  its  details 
from  sketches  recently  made  by  a  member  of  our 
staff. 

Figure  i  is  a  view  of  the  main  attic  tank.  It  is 
filled  by  pumping  or  from  the  street  pressure,  through 


FIG.. 4 


the  two  ball  cocks  on  the  i  ^-inch  brass  pipe  A,  and 
overflows  through  the  i  ^-inch  pipe  B.  . 

The  pipe  A,  where  it  comes  down  inside,  is  at- 
tached to  the  side  of  the  tank  by  the  foot  E,  which  is 
soldered  to  the  copper  lining  of  the  tank,  as  will  be 
seen  by  the  sketch.  The  two  ball  cocks  are  attached 
to  branches  from  the  tee  D.  It  is  intended  ordinarily 
to  keep  the  tank  about  two-thirds  full  of  water,  as 
shown,  but  in  summer  it  is  used  temporarily  to  sup- 
ply water  for  the  infrequent  use  of  the  freight  ele- 
vator, and  it  is  arranged  to  be  then  filled  up  to  the 
top  of  the  overflow  pipe  B.  The  ball  cocks  are  then 
removed  from  tee  D  to  tee  F,  and  the  plugs  now  in 
the  branches  of  the  latter  are  transferred  to  tee  D 
and  the  overflow  outlet  at  G  is  closed. 

H  H,  etc  ,  are  J^-inch  brass  vent  pipes  from  the 
heating  boiler,  main  lines,  etc.  I  is  the  waste  pipe 
for  emptying  the  tank.  J  is  its  valve,  which  can  be 
raised  and  opened  by  the  chain  K.  Valves  similar  to 


Re.  I 

SOME  PLTJMBTNO  TN  BOSTON,   MASS 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


J  are  at  O  O,  etc.,  controlling  the  supply  to  the  vari- 
ous pipes;  lead  weights  are  attached  to  the  chains  to 
insure  the  closing  of  the  valves. 

Figure  2  shows  the  face  of  the  tank,  which  is  broken 
away  in  Fig.  j.  The  tank  supply  through  pipe  A 
will,  if  the  key  valve  N  be  opened,  supply  the  ele- 
vator through  the  i  ^-inch  brass  pipe  P. 

R  is  a  locked  glass  case  containing  the  handles 
i,  2,  3,  4,  and  5,  of  the  chains  from  supply  valves 
J  O  O  O  O,  Fig.  i.  When  the  handles  are  pulled 
down,  as  i,  3,  and  5  are,  their  valves  are  opened. 
When  raised,  as  are  2  and  4,  their  valves  are  closed. 

Figure  3  shows  the  hot-water  boiler  A  in  the  base- 
ment that  supplies  hot  water  to  the  kitchens,  bath- 
rooms, etc.,  throughout  the  house.  It  is  jacketed 
with  asbestos,  and  contains  a  coil  of  brass  pipe  which 
receives  live  or  exhaust  steam  through  pipe  B,  and 
returns  it  through  the  2-inch  brass  pipe  C  to  the  trap 
D  and  thence  through  the  i-inch  iron  pipe  E  to  the 
boiler. 

T  is  a  thermometer. 

F  is  the  cold-water  supply  pipe. 

H  and  H  are  hot-water  supply  pipes  and  G  is  the 
hot-water  return  circulation  pipe. 

I  is  the  i^-inch  brass  sediment  pipe  to  empty  the 
boiler. 

Figure  4  shows  the  sink  in  the  boiler-room.  It  is 
neatly  supported  by  a  frame  made  of  polished  brass 
pipes  nicely  curved. 


H  is  the  hot,  and  C  is  the  cold-water  pipe;  W  is  the 
waste,  and  D  the  trap  vent  pipe. 

E  is  a  waste  pipe  from  the  receiver  into  which  all 
the  safes  and  refrigerators  in  the  house  are  drained. 


DANGEROUS  BLUNDERS  IN  PLUMBING. 

ANOTHER   WAY   TO    MAKE   A   BY-PASS. 
(PUBLISHED   IN   1889.) 

E.  H.  KENDALL,  architect,  of  New  York  City,  has 
called  our  attention  to  the  ingenious  arrangement 


A  BY-PASS  FROM  CESSPOOL. 


which  he  recently  discovered,  whereby  the  plumber 
of  a  country  residence  contrived  to  admit  cesspool 
gas  where  it  was  most  necessary  to  exclude  it. 


Pic.  3 

SOME   PLUMBING  IN  BOSTON,    MASS. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


A  is  the  house  drain,  F  the  main  trap  cut-off  drain 
from  cesspool.  C  is  a  fresh-air  pipe  from  inlet  D. 
To  ventilate  the  cesspool  the  plumber  conceived  the 
idea  of  extending  the  inlet  pipe  to  E,  where  he  con- 
nected it  with  the  drain  pipe  and  thus  provided  for 
the  free  escape  of  cesspool  gas  under  the  windows, 
and  past  the  main  trap  F,  as  indicated  by  the  arrows, 
thus  making  his  main  trap  useless. 


AN  OVERHEAD  ARRANGEMENT   OF  BATH- 
ROOM PIPES. 

(PUBLISHED  IN  1889.) 

A  MEMBER  of  our  staff  some  time  ago  saw,  in  a 
Boston  building,  the  work  that  is  here  illustrated 
from  sketches  he  made.  Each  suite  of  apartments  has 
laundry  tubs,  kitchen  sink,  butlers'  sink,  two  wash- 
stands,  a  large  bathroom  and  a  servants'  bathroom. 


KITCHEN    BOILERS  IN    RESIDENCE   OF 
GEORGE  VANDERBILT,  ESQ. 

(PUBLISHED  IN   1887  ) 

THE  accompanying  illustrations  are  from  the  resi- 
dence of  Mr.  George  Vanderbilt,  9  West  Fifty-third 
Street,  New  York.  Figure  i  shows  the  boilers  in  the 
kitchen,  one  on  either  side  of  the  range.  That  on  the 
right  is  supplied  trom  the  street  pressure,  while  that 
on  the  left  receives  its  water  from  the  tank  on  the  top 
floor.  The  water-back  was  made  specially  for  this 
work,  and  has  a  partition  through  the  center  allow- 
ing each  boiler  to  be  heated  independently  of  the 
other.  The  water  pipes  throughout  are  tinned  brass, 
giving  the  work  a  very  bright  and  pleasing  appear- 
ance. Gate  valves  are  used  in  place  of  the  ordinary 
stop-cocks,  and  reverse  cocks  are  placed  directly  over 
the  kitchen  sink  where  they  can  be  readily  reached. 
Each  boiler  contains  60  gallons,  and  is  supported  on 
specially  made  brass  rims  with  four  brass  legs.  The 
arrangement  of  the  supply  pipes  to  the  sink  is  very 
simple  and  neat,  with  air  chambers  evenly  spaced 
and  a  plug  in  the  pipe  to  prevent  the  mingling  of  hot 
and  cold  water.  The  arrangement  of  the  pipes  will 
be  evident  on  examination  ot  the  illustration,  making 
further  description  unnecessary. 

The  master  plumber  was  Mr.  Alexander  Orr,  of 
New  York. 


Rg.jg 


All  the  pipes  are  of  brass,  either  polished  or  silver- 
plated,  and  all  either  entirely  exposed  or  readily 
accessible  by  doors  commanding  all  inclosed  portions. 

Figure  i  is  a  view  of  the  arrangement  in  a  large 
bathroom.  There  are  marble  safes  underneath  all 
the  fixtures,  and  the  washbowl  table  and  panels  are 
of  marble.  The  room  is  wainscoted  with  white 
ceramic  tiles,  and  the  cabinet-work  is  in  polished 
cherry,  except  that  on  the  ceiling,  which  is  painted 
white. 

The  bathtubs  and  bowls  are  of  porcelain,  and  all 
the  exposed  metal-work  is  of  brass  silver-plated. 

C  and  C  are  cold-water  supply  pipes  for  the  wash- 
bowls, and  H  and  H  are  hot- water  pipes.  D  is  a 


KITCHEN   BOILERS   IN    RESIDENCE   OF   GEORGE   VANDERBILT,    ESQ. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


OVERHEAD   ARRANGEMENT   OF   BATHROOM   PIPES 


special  brass  pipe,  with  wastes  B  B  and  trap  vent  A 
brazed  on. 

E  and  E  are  trap  vents;  they  can  easily  be  removed, 
aud  access  had  through  the  cap  plates  G  G  to  their 
traps  by  unscrewing  the  unions  F  F. 

The  supply  and  waste  pipes  and  traps  are  all 
arranged  underneath  the  floor  in  the  same  manner  as 
those  of  the  room  above,  which  are  shown  at  the  ceil- 
ing of  this  room.  P  is  a  cupboard  containing  the 
flush  tank  for  the  water-closet  in  the  same  room  and 
the  trap  for  the  water-closet  in  the  room  above.  K 
and  K  are  cupboards  containing  the  other  pipes  and 
traps  for  the  upper  room. 

O  is  the  soil  pipe,  M  is  the  hot  and  N  is  the  cold- 
water  distribution  pipe,  and  L  is  the  trap  for  bath- 
tub waste. 

Figure  2  shows  a  special  double  waste  and  trap 
vent  connection  that  is  somewhat  similar  to  the  one 
shown  at  D,  Fig.  i,  and  was  used  by  the  same 
plumbers  for  their  work  in  a  club-house.  It  is  made 
of  i  J^-inch  brass  pipe,  nickle-plated,  and  has  ground 
unions  A  A,  etc. 


PLUMBING   IN  A  NEW  YORK  BATHROOM. 

(PUBLISHED  IN   1894  ) 

IN  the  recent  reconstruction  of  the  plumbing  in  a 
residence  on  West  Eighty-first  Street,  New  York 
City,  some  special  work  was  done  by  John  Tucker  in 
arrangement  and  floor  construction  of  a  handsome 
bathroom  adjacent  to  the  owner's  bedroom.  There 


were  half  a  dozen  other  bathrooms  in  the  house  that 
presented  no  especial  features,  but  this  one  was  more 
elaborately  equipped  and  elegantly  finished,  and  as 
its  location  is  directly  over  some  costly  ceiling  decora- 
tions, unusual  pains  were  taken  to  prevent  any  possi- 
bility of  leakage  or  moisture  from  percolating  below 
the  floor. 

The  room  was  paneled  6  feet  high  with  Italian 
marble  wainscoting,  and  had  a  floor  of  large  white 
marble  slabs.  The  fixtures  were  of  marble,  porce- 
lain, and  plated  metal,  and  are  designed  to  be  both 
handsome  and  rich.  Figure  lisa  floor  plan  showing 
the  general  arrangement  and  the  pitch  and  jointing 
of  the  different  sections  of  the  floor,  which  sloped 
about  one-half  inch  to  th  j  line  A  B,  besides  which 
point  B  was  about  i  inch  lower  than  A,  so  that  it  re- 
ceives all  the  drainage  and  conducts  it  to  the  strainer- 
plate  B.  The  floor  surface  is  in  three  planes,  ADD 
and  ADEB.ADEB  intersecting  in  the  lines  A  D, 
A  D,  and  A  B.  On  the  regular  rough  floor  a  sloping 
platform  F  was  built  on  joists  J  J  at  i-inch  pitch  and 
entirely  covered  by  a  large  safe  pan  of  heavy  sheet 
lead,  in  which  a  layer  of  Portland  cement  from  i  to  z 
inches  thick  bedded  the  marble  floor  slab  at  a  pitch 
of  one-half  inch.  A  deeper  pan  was  made  in  the  safe 
to  receive  the  4-inch  slab  of  the  needle  bath,  and  to 
its  sides  on  the  outside  corner  was  soldered  a  vertical 
sheet  of  iz-ounce  copper  about  8  feet  high  and  weigh- 
ing 60  pounds.  This  was  intended  to  prevent  any 
possibility  of  water  from  the  bath  spattering  and  run- 
ning down  behind  the  wainscot. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


Figure  2  is  a  drawing  of  the  lead  safe,  dog-eared  at 
the  corners.  Figure  3  shows  the  arrangement  of  soil, 
waste,  and  water  pipes.  The  soil  pipe  is  4-inch  cast 
iron  with  calked  joints  and  lie"  on  the  rough  floor. 
The  waste  pipes  are  i^-inch  and  2-inch  screwed 
wrought  iron,  also  laid  on  the  rough  floor.  The  water 
pipes  are  laid  in  channels  grooved  in  the  sloping 
platform,  into  which  the  lead  safe  has  been  smoothly 
beaten  down.  Figure  5  is  a  diagram  of  the  arrange- 


ment  of  the  trap  vent  pipes  behind  the  wainscoting 
and  over  the  ceiling  of  the  bathroom.  Figure  6  shows 
the  method  of  making  traps  on  the  screwed  waste 


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PLUMBING  IN   A  NEW  YORK   BATHROOM. 


•v 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


pipes  and  carrying  them  through  the  lead  safe.  In 
Fig.  7,  S  is  the  strainer-plate  S,  Fig.  i,  and  W  is  the 
waste  pipe  from  the  needle  bath.  P  is  a  5^- inch  pipe 
supplying  hot  or  cold  water  at  a  considerable  pressure 
to  the  nozzle  N.  which  is  concealed  inside  the  waste 
pipe  and  furnishes  a  vertical  jet  commanded  by 
valves  V  V. 


PLUMBING    IN    JOHN    D.    ROCKEFELLER'S 
HOUSE  AT  TARRYTOWN.  N.  Y. 

(PUBLISHED  IN   1891.) 

THE  systems  of  hot  and  cold-water  supply,  drainage 
and  trap  ventilation  in  this  house  and  its  stables,  etc. , 
illustrate  the  design  and  execution  of  extensive  work 
for  a  large  and  costly  establishment,  having  nearly 
all  the  requirements  of  a  city  house  in  addition  to 
some  others  belonging  to  a  country  place,  and  under 
the  conditions  imposed  by  its  isolated  location. 

Water  is  brought  from  the  Pocantico  water  supply, 
of  Tarrytown,  in  a  special  4-inch  main,  about  4  miles 
long,  which  supplies  it  at  a  pressure  of  about  140 
pounds  per  square  inch  to  a  reducing  valve.  This 
maintains  a  constant  delivery  at  about  40  pounds, 
which  is  sufficient  to  raise  it  to  the  storage  tanks  in 
the  attic. 

All  water  pipes  throughout  are  of  galvanized  iron. 
The  branches  to  all  fixtures  are  |^-inch  AAA  lead 
pipe;  all  boiler  connections  are  brass.  Two  toilet- 
rooms  on  the  first  floor  have  exposed  silver-plated 
pipes;  elsewhere  the  washstands,  etc.  have  the  space 
underneath  occupied  with  drawers.  Lead  safes  are 
everywhere  placed  under  the  pipes  and  fixtures.  All 
soil  pipes  are  perfectly  vertical  from  sewer  to  above 
roof;  most  of  them  are  built  in  recesses  left  in  the 
walls  and  subsequently  bricked  and  plastered  up. 
All  are  4  inches  except  one  line  $  inches  in  diameter. 
All  water  supplies  rise  in  elevator  shafts  to  attic  or 
fourth  floor,  where  they  are  distributed  in  lead-lined 
troughs,  see  Fig.  i,  between  floor  and  joist,  and  have 
vertical  branches  with  stop  cocks  to  all  fixtures  on 
second  and  third  floors. 

For  the  basement  and  first  floor  all  branches  for 
water  supply  rise  vertically  from  distribution  pipes, 
suspended  below  the  basement  ceiling. 

All  the  drainage  pipes  are  suspended  below  the 
basement  floor,  overhead  in  cellar. 

In  the  main  part  of  the  house  there  are,  on  the 
third  floor,  six  toilet-rooms,  each  containing  a  water- 
closet,  a  bathtub  and  a  washbasin;  another  toilet- 
room  with  water-closet,  bathtub  and  two  basins,  and 
a  chambermaid's  slopsink.  On  the  fourth  floor  is  a 
photographers's  sink.  On  the  second  floor  is  a  toilet- 
room  containing  a  water-closet,  two  washbasins,  a 
long  bathtub  and  a  hip  bathtub;  another  toilet-room 
with  the  same  fixtures  except  the  hip  bath;  three 
toilet-rooms  with  one  basin,  a  bathtub  and  a  water- 
closet  in  each,  and  one  with  a  basin  and  water-closet 
only.  On  the  first  floor  is  one  toilet-room  with  water- 
closet,  washbasin,  and  urinal,  another  with  a  wash- 
basin and  urinal  only.  There  are  also  two  butlers* 
pantry  sinks,  one  servants'  hall  sink,  one  kitchen  sink, 
one  scullery  sink,  and  one  slopsink.  In  the  basement 
there  are  two  servants'  water-closets,  one  engine- 


room  sink,  seven  laundry  tubs  (in  two  sets),  and  one 
laundry  sink. 

Besides  the  above,  there  is,  in  a  portion  of  the 
house  designed  for  the  servants'  hall,  a  water-closet 
and  bathroom  on  the  third  floor;  water-closet,  bath, 
and  slopsink  on  the  second  floor;  and  in  the  kitchen 
a  house  boiler,  laundry  boiler,  and  a  water  heater. 

The  two  stables  have  accommodations  for  the 
superintendent  and  coachman  and  their  families,  and 
bachelors'  apartments  for  the  stable  hands.  The 
superintendent  has  a  bathroom,  water-closet,  kitchen 
boiler,  sink,  and  two  laundry  tubs.  The  coachman 
has  a  water-closet  and  ordinary  kitchen  fixtures. 
The  bachelors'  apartments  are  furnished  with  a  bath- 
tub, water-closet,  and  a  sink. 

In  the  stables  there  are  26  box  stalls  and  16  open 
stalls.  The  latter  drain  into  gutters  at  the  rear  with 
bell- trap  waste  pipes  for  every  two  stalls.  Each  box 
stall  has  separate  waste  and  trap.  There  are  two 
horse  troughs,  one  harness-room,  sink,  one  wash- 
basin, and  two  water-closets  in  the  stable.  Outside, 
under  a  roof,  is  a  concrete  platform,  30x60  feet, 
pitched  to  two  wastes,  with  bell-trapped  strainers 
and  hose  cocks  for  washing  carriages.  In  the  adja- 
cent engine  and  dynamo  house  there  is  one  water- 
closet  and  one  sink.  There  are  about  25  fire  hydrants 
distributed  through  the  grounds,  and  15  street 
washers  for  sprinkling  lawn. 

All  the  sewage  is  discharged  through  an  8-inch 
main  iron  pipe  into  the  river  between  high  and  low 
water.  All  the  soil  pipe  was  tested  by  water  pressure 
up  to  the  roof  after  the  connections  were  made  ready 
for  the  fixtures. 

Figure  2  shows  the  location  of  the  house  tanks  A 
and  B  in  the  attic,  and  Figs.  3  and  4  are  separate 
views  of  A  and  B  respectively.  Each  tank  is  filled 
through  a  ball  cock  from  the  2-inch  pump  pipe  G, 
and  overflows  through  funnel  heads  H  on  the 
branches  of  a  4-inch  pipe  D  open  above  the  roof  and 
discharging  into  the  engine-room  sink.  F  is  a  2-inch 
equalizing  pipe  which  connects  the  two  tanks,  and 
through  which  they  may  be  emptied  directly  into  the 
sewer.  J  is  the  2j^-inch  house-supply  pipe,  and  E  is 
a  4-inch  supply  to  the  elevator  tank.  K,  Fig.  3,  is  a 
special  2-inch  branch  to  the  kitchen  boiler,  and  L  is 
the  i  J^-inch  supply  for  the  distributing  pipes  through- 
out the  house.  M  is  a  i  inch  supply  for  the  photog- 
rapher's room  on  the  attic  floor.  N  N  are  ^"-inch 
safety  pipes  from  the  kitchen  and  laundry  boilers. 
O  is  an  iron  safe,  and  P  is  its  waste  pipe. 

Figure  5  shows  the  25o-gallon  boiler  A  in  the 
kitchen.  It  is  about  40x70  inches  and  has  a  domed 
top,  flat-bottomed,  and  is  supported  by  a  frame  of 
brass  pipes  B,  screwed  into  a  floorplate  C.  The  cold 
supply  is  through  D,  and  the  hot  delivery  through  E, 
both  i^-inch  pipes.  Circulation  is  through  the  i- 
inch  pipe  F,  which  runs  from  the  third-floor  pipes  to 
the  i^-inch  circulation  pipe  G.  The  branch  I  con- 
nects with  the  water-back  in  the  kitchen  range  R, 
which  returns  the  heated  water  through  the  i  ^-inch 
branch  J  of  the  upper  circulation  pipe  K.  All  these 
pipes  are  of  polished  brass. 

Figure  6  shows  the  heater  M  (Bramhall,  Deane  & 
Co.'s  No.  2),  which  is  placed  in  the  basement  under- 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


27 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


neath  boiler  A,  to  help  heat  its  water  when  the  de- 
mand overtaxes  the  range  water-back.  The  i  j^-inch 
brass  pipes  L  and  H  are  connected  to  the  water 
jacket  and  above,  as  shown  in  Fig.  5,  with  the  circu- 
lation pipes  G  and  K,  in  which  part  of  the  water 
flows  through  branch  I  to  kitchen  range  and  returns 
through  branch  ].  The  remainder  flows  through 
branch  H  to  the  heater  and  returns  through  branch 
L.  N  is  a  key  valve  through  which,  and  the  pipe  O, 
the  hot-water  system  may  be  emptied  into  the  sewer. 
Figure  8  is  a  diagram  of  the  overhead  arrangement 
of  the  hot  and  cold  water  pipes  in  the  basement. 


A  A  are  the  laundry  rooms.  B  is  a  closet,  C  and  D 
are  sets  of  enameled  tubs,  E  is  a  sink,  F  is  the  100- 
gallon  laundry  boiler,  G  is  a  steam  pipe. 

Figure  7  shows  the  connections  to  laundry  boiler  F, 
Fig.  7.  Cold  water  is  supplied  to  it  through  the  ij^- 
inch  branch  H  from  the  tank  pipe  I,  and  as  the  main 
part  of  the  house  may  be  closed  and  the  tanks 
emptied  in  the  winter,  it  has  also  a  special  branch  J, 
through  which  it  may  be  supplied  direct  from  the  4- 
inch  main.  Hot  water  is  delivered  to  the  tubs  through 
i  %  -inch  pipe  K,  which  has  also  a  branch  L,  connect- 
ing with  the  bathtub  and  washbasin  supply,  so  that 
boiler  F  may  assist  the  kitchen  boiler  to  operate  the 
house  system  if  necessary,  or  the  kitchen  boiler  can 
be  connected  with  the  laundry  tubs.  M  is  the  return 
circulation  pipe,  and  P  is  the  sediment  pipe  to  the 
sewer,  with  a  key  valve  S;  Q  and  R  are  the  circula- 
tion pipes  to  the  water-back. 

Figure  9  is  a  perspective  from  Z,  Fig.  7,  and  shows 
the  exposed  arrangement,  under  the  fireproof  floor,  of 
the  distribution  pipes  to  the  tubs  D,  sink  E,  and  risers 
T  T,  which  are  like  the  numerous  other  lines,  taken 
from  the  basement  ceiling  vertically  to  the  first  floor 


HS 

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PLUMBING  IN   MR.    JOHN   D.    ROCKEFELLER'S   HOUSE   AND   STABLE,   TARRYTOWN     N.    Y. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


29 


and  servants'  fixtures,  or  lines  of  fixtures  they  supply. 
S  S  are  steam  heating  pipes,  and  U  is  the  refrigerator 
waste  which  terminates  above  the  sink  in  a  flap 
valve  V. 

Figure  10  is  a  view  from  Y,  Fig.  7,  of  the  detached 
tubs  C,  which  were  especially  designed  by  Mrs. 
Rockefeller  to  stand  in  the  middle  of  the  room  and 
be  provided  with  an  adjustable  table  A,  that,  when 
not  in  use,  should  hang  down  as  shown,  to  form  a 
side  panel,  and  may  be  raised  to  the  position  shown 
by  broken  lines.  The  hot  and  cold  pipes  H  and  B 
are  protected  by  a  case  D,  and  are  carried  on  the 
ceiling  as  shown  in  Fig.  9.  XX  are  refrigerator  drip 
pipe,  and  W  is  a  trap  vent. 

Figure  n  is  a  diagram  showing  the  sizes  and 
arrangement  of  the  soil  and  waste  pipes  and  leaders 
tinder  the  stable  floor.  The  stable  is  in  the  second 
Story  of  the  building,  and  all  the  pipes  are  suspended 
from  its  floor  joists  in  the  upper  part  of  the  basement. 
A  A,  etc.  are  the  branches  to  the  open  and  box  stall; 
B  B,  etc.  are  branches  to  rainwater  leaders;  C  C  are 
wastes  from  hose  troughs;  D  D  are  drains  from  the 
carriage-washing  platform;  E  E  are  soil  pipes  from 
the  employees'  rooms;  F  is  a  drain  pipe  from  the  ex- 
ercising room;  and  H  is  the  elevator  shaft  through 
which  the  trap  ventilation  pipe  passes  to  above  the 
roof. 

E.  M.  Roberts  was  the  architect.  The  plumbing 
and  gasfitting  was  executed  by  John  Tourney  &  Son, 
of  New  York. 


AN   ATTEMPT    TO    DECEIVE    A    PLUMBING 
INSPECTOR. 

(PUBLISHED  IN   1889.) 

SOME  time  ago  we  had  occasion  to  note  the  attempt 
of  some  plumber,  we  think  in  Cincinnati,  to  deceive 
the  inspector  in  regard  to  the  tightness  of  his  drain 
pipes,  by  putting  a  plug  in  the  upper  part  of  the  soil 
pipe  and  filling  the  part  above  with  water,  thus  giving 
ing  the  false  impression  that  all  the  pipes  were  filled 
and  subjected  to  pressure. 

A  similar  trick  is  reported  in  the  Asbury  Park 
Journal  as  having  been  recently  tried  in  that  place. 

One  of  the  requirements  of  the  health  laws  gov- 
erning Asbury  Park  is  that  all  plumbing,  upon  com- 
pletion, shall  be  examined  and  tested  by  the  Inspector 
of  Plumbing.  The  principal  test  is  to  see  that  the 
whole  system  in  a  house  is  perfectly  air-tight,  so  that 
sewer  gas  may  not  escape,  and  for  this  purpose  the 
ends  of  the  pipe  are  sealed  up  and  an  air  pump  with 
pressure  gauge  is  attached.  Air  is  forced  in  the  pipes 
until  a  pressure  of  five  pounds  to  the  square  inch  is 
attained.  As  soon  as  the  pump  is  stopped  the  gauge 
will  quickly  indicate  the  presence  of  a  leak;  if  it 
stands  at  the  required  notch  for  a  certain  length  of 
time  the  test  is  deemed  satisfactory. 

In  this  case,  a  plumber  doing  business  in  As- 
bury Park  informed  the  Board  of  Health  that  he  had 
completed  the  work  on  a  house  and  was  ready  to  have 
it  inspected.  Inspector  Lippincott  went  to  the  build- 
ing and  was  met  there  by  the  foreman  plumber,  who 
remarked  to  him  that  he  had  a  hard  time  to  get  the 
job  tight.  The  air  pump  was  attached,  and  the  first 


two  or  three  strokes  indicated  pressure  on  the  gauge. 
This  was  unusual,  and  excited  the  suspicion  of  the 
inspector,  for  in  a  line  of  large  pipe  it  requires  more 
time  to  compress  the  air  sufficiently  for  it  to  show  on 
the  indicator.  The  pressure  went  up  to  five  pounds 
and  stood  there  firmly,  and  the  inspector  then  went 
upstairs  to  look  over  the  line  of  pipe.  He  requested 
the  foreman  to  open  one  of  the  capped  inlets,  but 
before  doing  so  the  foreman  made  an  excuse  to  go 
downstairs  after  his  tools.  When  the  cap  was  re- 
moved no  air  escaped,  and  the  inspector  then  knew 
that  some  trickery  was  being  practiced.  Returning 
to  the  pump  he  found  there  was  no  pressure  on  the 
gauge.  The  foreman  declared  that  he  had  not  touched 
it  when  he  came  down  after  his  tools.  The  pump  was 
again  worked  and  the  pressure  immediately  went  up 
to  five  pounds  and  stood  there,  although  the  pipe  was 
open  upstairs. 

The  pump  was  then  removed,  and  in  the  pipe,  about 
2  feet  from  the  end,  was  found  a  plaster  of  Paris  plug, 
calked  in  with  oakum,  that  effectually  shut  of  the 
passage  of  air,  so  that  not  a  single  joint  of  the  house 
drain  pipe  was  subjected  to  pressure.  When  the 
foreman  saw  that  the  trickery  was  exposed  he  con- 
fessed that  he  and  his  helper  had  plugged  the  pipe. 
The  boss  plumber  claimed  to  know  nothing  about  it, 
and  charged  it  all  on  the  two  men. 

Inspector  Lippincott  deserved  praise  for  his  quick 
detection  of  the  fraud,  and  the  owner  of  the  house 
can  thank  the  Board  of  Health  for  defending  him 
against  having  a  dangerous  construction  erected  in 
his  house,  when  he  had  contracted  for  and  paid  for 
a  first-class  job. 

The  houseowner  doubtless  appreciates  the  efficiency 
of  the  inspector  and  the  value  of  the  plumbing  law. 


PLUMBING  IN  THE   RESIDENCE  OF  MR. 
ELBRIDGE  T.  GERRY. 

(PUBLISHED  IN  1894  ) 

THE  new  house  of  Mr.  Elbridge  T.  Gerry  at  Fifth 
Avenue  and  Sixty-first  Street,  New  York  City,  is  a 
large  and  costly  building  designed  by  Richard  M. 
Hunt,  architect,  of  New  York,  and  equipped  with  an 
ample  provision  of  hot  and  cold  water  supply  and 
abundant  fixtures  for  the  comforts  and  necessities 
of  the  domestic  and  toilet  requirements.  The  pipe 
lines  are  all  screw-connected  and  pressure-tested. 
The  water  supply  is  received  through  two  2-inch  con- 
nections with  different  street  mains  and  is  all  filtered 
through  a  battery  of  four  pressure  filters,  whence  it 
is  pumped  by  electricity  to  an  attic  tank  which  is  in- 
tended to  provide  a  day's  storage  and  furnish  uniform 
pressure.  There  are  complete  systems  of  trap  and 
local  ventilation  and  an  abundant  supply  of  hot  water 
from  several  separate  interchangeable  sources.  The 
installation,  which  was  executed  by  James  Muir, 
Sons  &  Co.,  of  New  York  City,  comprises  nine  bath- 
rooms, a  butler's  pantry,  kitchen,  scullery,  and  two 
laundries,  together  with  metering,  filtering,  pumping 
and  storing  and  heating  apparatus,  with  its  neces- 
sary machinery.  There  are  in  the  house  four  water- 
closets,  10  washbowls,  three  slopsinks,  one  urinal, 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


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one  sitz  bath,  two  butler's  sinks,  a  kitchen  sink  with 
special  marble  table,  two  sets  of  five  earthenware 
washtrays,  and  two  iron  sinks  for  washing,  drips, 
etc.  Most  of  the  bathrooms  have  white  tiled  floor 
and  walls  and  oak  cabinet-work,  but  the  boudoir 
bathroom  is  finished  with  rose-colored  tiles,  mosaic 
floor,  and  rosewood  cabinet-work,  the  metal-work 
being  of  ornamental  design,  silver-plated,  and  the 
porcelain  decorated  in  white.  The  bathtubs  are  of 
porcelain  and  enameled  iron. 

Figure  i  shows  the  arrangement  and  connection  of 
the  Continental  filters  in  the  basement.  A  and  B  are 
2-inch  supplies  from  different  street  mains  which  de- 
liver to  the  filters  through  the  independent  branches 
D  D.  Filtered  water  is  delivered  through  valves  I 
and  pipes,  here  omitted  to  avoid  confusion,  to  the 
pump  suction  tank  and  basement  distribution  lines. 
The  valves  G  and  H  of  each  filter  are  connected  and 
operated  by  a  link  arrangement  commanded  by 
handle  M  (omitted  in  the  general  view,  but  shown  in 
a  detached  detail)  which  operates  both  together,  so 
that  when  turned  into  one  position  the  filter  is  in 
service,  delivering  into  the  house  system,  and  when 
reversed  washes  out  the  interior  under  tank  pressure 
and  delivers  the  water  into  funnels  Q  Q  ot  a  waste 
pipe  which  empties  freely  into  an  adjacent  trapped 
sink  S. .  Filters  E  £  are  intended  to  be  used  for  the 
supply  to  the  kitchen  and  butler's  pantry,  and  niters 
F  F  for  the  general  house  supply. 

Figure  2  shows  the  hot-water  boiler,  about  3x8 
feet,  for  supplying  the  kitchen  and  bathrooms.  Cold- 
water  supply  is  received  through  pipe  B  and  check 
valve  V,  which  closes  away  from  the  boiler  to  prevent 
back  flow.  The  coldest  water  in  the  boiler  circulates 
through  pipe  C  to  the  Hitchings  greenhouse  heater 
No.  3,  A,  and  returns  to  the  boiler  at  a  higher  temper- 
ature through  pipe  H.  The  boiler  delivers  hot  water 
through  pipe  E  to  the  basement  and  first-floor  distri- 
bution lines  and  through  pipe  D  to  the  upper  floors. 
F  is  the  return  circulation  and  I  the  emptying  pipe. 
S  S,  etc.  is  a  pipe  frame  supporting  the  boiler.  The 
cold-water  supply  to  the  hot-water  boiler  passes 
through  five  Tucker  grease  traps  from  sinks  in  the 
basement  before  supplying  the  boiler. 

If  steam  forms  in  the  heater  A  it  is  immediately  car- 
ried over  into  the  drum  N,  and  separating  from  the 
hot  water  that  is  delivered  through  pipe  H,  its  press- 
ure is  transmitted  through  pipe  Q  to  a  diaphragm  at 
O,  which  actuates  a  lever  M  and  operates  the  chain  L 
commanding  the  dampers.  The  illustration  shows 
the  draft  on,  but  if  the  water  becomes  too  hot  the 
lever  M  will  move  in  the  direction  T,  closing  draft 
damper  P  and  simultaneously  opening  check  damper 
K.  When  the  temperature  of  the  water  falls  suffi- 
ciently and  the  steam  pressure  is  relieved,  the  lever 
M  will  return  to  its  former  position  and  the  dampers 
will  be  reversed.  R  is  a  support  for  diaphragm  case 
O. 

Figure  2  shows  the  connections  to  the  attic  tank, 
which  is  made  of  riveted  steel  angles  and  plates,  and 
is  about  s'x8'x6'  deep.  It  rests  on  three  rolled  12- 
inch  beams  A  A  A  that  distribute  its  weight  upon 
the  transverse  beams  B  B  B,  beneath  which  are  sup- 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


SSSSSSSSS^^ 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE, 


ported  on  the  iron  ceiling  girders  of  the  upper  floor. 
C  is  the  i^-inch  delivery  from  the  pump.  D  is  the 
i  J^-inch  general  house  supply,  down-vented  by  the 
2^-inch  pipe  E,  which  promotes  its  emptying,  and  is 
fitted  with  a  ball  cock  to  close  when  the  tank  is  full 
and  prevent  discharge  through  it.  F  is  a  ij^-inch 
riser  from  the  city  mains  under  street  pressure.  It 
has  a  check  valve  opening  with  a  delivery  from  the 
tank,  so  as  to  serve  as  a  supply  from  the  tank  to  the 
city  pressure  pipes  when  the  adjacent  gate  valve  is 
open,  and  it  delivers  into  the  tank  through  pipe  G 
and  ball  cock  H.  I  is  the  emptying  and  ]  is  the  over- 
flow pipes  discharging  into  the  open  sink  in  the  cellar, 
and  V  V  V  are  hot-water  expansion  pipes  carried  10 
feet  above  the  tank  to  the  highest  point  under  the  peak 
of  the  roof.  R  is  a  copper  float  which, with  its  accom- 
panying counterweight  L,  is  attached  to  the  chain 
P  which  operates  the  spring  lever  O  that  makes  and 
breaks  the  electric  circuit  between  wires  M  and  N, 
and  sounds  a  high  and  low  water  alarm  bell  near  the 
pump  in  the  basement.  Q  is  a  canvas  covered  asbestos 
conduit  through  which  the  main  pipe  lines  are  run 
underneath  the  roof  above  the  chamber  ceilings. 


Fw.7 


Figure  4  is  a  sketch  plan  showing  the  arrangement 
of  the  connected  adjacent  laundry-rooms.  Figure  5 
is  a  view  from  A,  Fig.  4,  showing  the  pipe  connec- 
tions to  one  of  the  double  ranges.  Its  Go-gallon 
boiler  A  is  supplied  through  the  i-inch  street  press- 
ure pipe  B,  and  its  circulation  from  the  rear  water- 
back  is  through  the  two  pipes  C  C.  It  delivers  hot 
water  through  pipe  D,  and  E  is  its  vent  pipe,  carried 
down  and  under  the  floor  across  to  the  riser  shaft. 
The  circulation  pipes  of  the  front  water-back 
are  connected  directly  to  the  flow  and  return  pipes  F 
and  R  that  serve  the  radiator  coil  in  the  laundry  dry- 
room.  The  water  consumed  in  this  system  is  re- 
placed by  an  automatic  feed -water  regulator  G,  fur- 
nished by  the  Duparquet,  Moneuse  &  Huot  Com- 
pany, that  is  supplied  under  street  pressure  through 
pipe  H.  When  the  inclosed  float  falls  below  a  certain 
level  X  X  it  opens  an  interior  valve  and  delivers 
water  through  I  to  pipe  F.  J  is  a  gauge  glass,  and 
K  K'  are  key  valves  that  are  ordinarily  open.  If  it 
is  desired  to  feed  the  coil  by  hand,  valves  K  and  N 
are  closed  and  valves  M  and  L  are  opened.  O  is  a 


vent  pipe,  P  is  an  overflow  pipe,  and  Q  is  an  empty- 
ing pipe. 

Figure  6  is  a  diagram  of  the  piping  for  one  set  of 
five  laundry  tubs.  Ordinarily  valve  A.  is  closed  and 
the  hot  water  is  supplied  from  the  range  boiler,  but 
by  opening  valve  A  supply  may  also  -be  taken  from 
pipe  E  from  the  basement  general  boiler,  Fig.  2. 
W  W,  etc.  are  waste  pipes,  and  O  O  O,  etc.  are  over- 
flow connections. 

Figure  7  shows  one  of  several  switchboards  located 
in  different  bathrooms  to  control  the  supply  of  hot 
and  cold  water  to  the  different  fixtures  in  the  room. 
Valve  A  commands  the  flush  tanks,  B  the  hot  and  C 
the  cold  supply.  Offsets,  intersections,  and  changes 
of  direction  are  made  by  curving  the  plated  brass 
pipe,  which  is  so  skillfully  done  as  to  present  a  not- 
ably handsome  and  elegant  appearance.  Special 
examples  are  at  D,  where  the  flush  pipe  is  carried 
around  a  register  handle,  and  at  E,  where  the  bath- 
tub pipes  are  carried  around  the  water-closet  bowl. 
P  is  a  panel  extending  to  the  ceiling,  on  which  the 
tile  are  secured,  and  which  is  removable  throughout 
its  entire  length,  together  with  the  pipe  on  its  face, 
to  give  access  to  the  riser  lines  in  the  recess  behind  it. 

Figure  8  shows  the  arrangement  for  inserting  cir- 
culation for  local  vent  pipes.  The  box  A  is  set  in  the 
attic  wall,  and  inside  it  are  burned  two  gas  flames, 
visible  through  the  glass  door.  These  tend  to  ex- 
haust the  air  from  the  vent-pipe  branches  and  dis- 
charge the  lighter  warmed  air  through  conduit  B 
above  the  roof. 

Figure  9  shows  the  method  of  flashing  the  soil  and 
trap  vent  pipes.  A  copper  plate  S  is  laid  under  the 
slates  and  the  copper  thimble  T  soldered  to  it,  in- 
closing the  wrought-iron  pipe  up  to  its  first  joint,  or 
to  the  top,  where  in  either  case  a  coupling  C,  cham- 
fered out  and  beveled  on  the  lower  edge,  is  screwed 
down  over  the  sleeve  and  holds  it  firmly  and  caps  it. 


PLUMBING  IN  SEVENTY-SECOND  STREET 
HOUSES,  NEW  YORK. 

^PUBLISHED  IN  1891.) 

THE  plumbing  of  two  new  houses  on  West  Seventy- 
second  Street,  New  York,  provides  for  an  unusually 
complete  control  of  the  hot  water,  which  may  be  sup- 
plied from  either  or  both  of  two  boilers  to  any  or  all 
of  eight  subdivisions  of  the  house  at  will.  There  are 
also  some  special  details  designed  for  this  work  by 
Paul  S.  Bolger,  who  executed  the  plumbing  and  gas- 
fitting.  The  largest  house  is  four  stories  high  with  a 
basement  and  cellar,  and  its  three  upper  floors  are 
divided  by  central  halls,  to  each  side  of  which  the 
water  supply  is  independent. 

Figure  i  shows  the  two  go-gallon  boilers  B  and  C, 
which  are  heated  from  water-backs  in  the  kitchen 
range  R.  Both  of  them  are  at  present  supplied  with 
water  under  street  pressure,  but  it  is  intended  that 
either  of  them  shall  be  supplied  from  a  roof  tank  if 
the  city  pressure  becomes  insufficient.  Cold  water  is 
received  from  the  street  through  pipe  C  and  from 
the  tank  through  pipe  A.  To  connect  either  boiler, 
as  B,  with  tank  pressure,  its  supply  pipe  D  must  have 
the  street  pressure  cut  off  and  tank  pressure  admitted 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


by  closing  its  valve  at  Z  and  opening  its  valve  at  X. 
Delivery  pipe  E  and  circulation  pipe  G  must  be  cut 
off  from  the  street  pressure  by  closing  their  valves 
at  X  and  Z,  and  the  supply,  delivery,  and  circulation 
pipes  d,f,  and  h,  of  street  pressure  boiler  b,  must  be 
cut  off  from  tank  pressure  by  closing  their  valves  at 
x  and  z.  Then  boiler  B  will  deliver  through  pipe  F 
and  boiler  b  through  pipe  e,  pipes  E  and  /  and  cir- 
culation pipes  G  and  h  being  cut  out.  By  reversing 
the  valves,  boilers  B  and  b  would  work  under  street 
and  tank  pressures  respectively,  and  pipes  e,  F,  g,  H 
would  be  cut  out. 

I  is  street  hot,  J  is  tank  hot,  L  is  street  circulation, 
and  K  is  tank  circulation  for  the  upper  storie.s.  M  is 
the  street  hot  and  N  is  the  tank  hot  supply  to  the  first 
floor  and  basement  fixtures.  By  closing  the  valves 
at  X  and  x  on  pipes  D  and  d,  and  opening  all  others , 
both  boilers  are  put  under  street  pressure,  or  by  clos- 
ing the  valves  on  C,  at  Z  and  z,  and  opening  all 
others,  both  are  put  under  tank  pressure. 

The  circulation  pipes  G  g  and  H  h  are  united  be- 
low the  kitchen  floor  to  pipes  O  for  the  tank  and  P 
for  the  street  pressure  systems,  and  they  and  the 
boilers  may  be  emptied  through  valves  at  Z  and  z, 
and  in  the  cellar.  Q  and  q  are  check  valves  to  pre- 
vent the  escape  of  tank  water  into  the  street  mains. 
U,  u,  etc.  are  eight  unions.  All  the  pipes,  boilers, 
fixtures,  and  other  metal-work  are  nickel-plated,  and 
the  kitchen  walls  are  finished  with  white  ceramic 
tiles. 

Figure  2  shows  the  continuation  into  an  adjacent 
hall  of  the  tank,  hot-water,  and  circulation  pipes  A,  I, 
J,  and  K  L,  and  their  division  into  two  groups  of 
risers,  one  supplying  each  side  of  the  house.  Pipe 
At  is  connected  with  the  tank,  and  both  Ax  and  A3 
serve  for  general  tank  supply.  Each  group  of  risers 


has  from  the  foot  of  the  vertical  shaft  an  additional 
pipe  G!  C3  (not  shown  here),  supplying  cold  water 
under  street  pressure.  Y  is  a  drip  pipe  and  S  S  are 
10  special  valves  through  which  the  riser  lines  may 
be  emptied.  B  B  are  five  unions  and  D  D  are  10 
special  angle  valves  controlling  the  riser  lines. 

Figure  3  shows  a  glass  cabinet  G,  on  the  wall  of 
the  back  stairway,  which  contains  a  cut-off  M  and 
three-way  cock  O  for  connecting  the  fixtures  on  one 
side  of  the  second  floor,  with  either  the  tank  or  street 
pressure  system.  The  risers  are  carried  in  a  wall 
shaft  X,  accessible  throughout  through  panels  W 
W,  but  are  deflected  to  one  side  at  V,  just  below  the 
cut  off,  to  afford  more  room  for  connections,  as  shown 
in  d.a^ram,  Fig.  4.  Lt  is  the  street  and  Kt  the  tank 
pressure  circulation;  J  is  the  tank  and  I  the  street 
pressure  hot-water  supply,  and  Ax  the  tank  and  Ct 
the  street  pressure  cold-water  supply;  H  is  the  hot- 
water  and  Q  the  cold-water  distribution  to  the  second- 
floor  fixtures,  and  P  is  the  return  circulation  pipe 
from  them. 

When  the  cut-off  handles  are  turned  down,  the  cor- 
responding pipes  H  and  Q  are  connected  with  tank 
pressure,  when  turned  up,  as  shown,  they  are  con- 
nected with  the  street  pressure.  When  the  handle 
of  the  three-way  cock  O  is  turned  to  the  right,  as 
shown,  the  circulation  is  under  the  tank-pressure 
system;  it  is  under  the  street-pressure  system,  how- 
ever, when  it  is  turned  to  the  left.  There  are  six 
switch  arrangements  like  the  above,  three  in  the 
back  stairway  halls  for  the  second,  third,  and  fourth 
stories  of  one  side  of  the  house,  and  three  under  the 
washbasins  for  the  same  stories  on  the  other  side  of 
the  house. 

The  system  is  essentially  the  same  in  the  adjacent 
smaller  house,  except  for  the  arrangement  and  con- 


PLUMBING   IN    SEVENTY- SECOND  STREET   HOUSES,    NEW    YORK. 


M 


AMERICAN   PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


85 


M 


A  MEXICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


nection  of  the  supply  lines  in  the  basement  hall,  cor- 
responding to  Fig.  2.  This  is  shown  in  Fig.  5,  where 
the  same  reference  letters  have  the  same  significance 
as  in  Fig.  2,  and  G  G  are  ordinary  valves  controlling 
the  rising  lines,  C  C  are  10  special  drip  cocks  for 
emptying  the  rising  lines  into  a  pail,  since  it  was  not 
desirable  to  run  a  drip  pipe  from  this  point.  The 
work  throughout  the  house  is  well  executed  and  is 
beautifully  finished,  corresponding  with  the  costly 
materials  and  fixtures,  but  the  most  noticeable  feat- 
ures are  the  symmetry  and  neatness  in  the  pipe  and 
valve  work,  as  shown  in  Figs,  i,  2,  and  5,  where  the 
unions,  valves,  connections,  etc.  are  set  in  exact 
regular  lines  and  the  pipes  compactly  and  attractively 
arranged. 

Figure  6  shows  the  hot  and  cold  supplies,  H  and 
C,  for  a  set  of  four  laundry  tubs,  adjacent  to  the 
kitchen.  Hot  water  flows  into  distributing  pipe  D 
and  air  chamber  B,  and  cold  water  flows  into  distrib- 
uting pipe  E  and  air  chamber  F.  A  A  are  ordinary 
tees,  but  L  L  are  tees  with  one  branch  left  solid,  as 
at  L,  Fig.  7.  Faucets  G  and  K,  etc.  are  specially 
made  for  this  work,  as  shown  at  K,  Fig.  7,  the  sleeves 
Y  Y  being  cast  on  ball  Z,  which  has  a  waterway 
from  the  faucet  to-  only  one  of  the  sleeves,  this  being 
set  downwards  at  G  G  G  and  upwards  at  K  K  K. 
Ball  Z  has  a  flange  bearing  on  escutcheon  plate  X,  to 
which  it  is  fastened  by  screw  V,  and  the  whole  is 
secured  to  the  wall  W,  which  is  faced  with  white 
ceramic  tiles  T. 

At  faucets  M  M  the  balls  Z  have  the  water  through 
from  one  sleeve  to  the  other.  The  tops  of  the  air 
chambers  R  R  are  finished  like  those  at  the  kitchen 
sink,  Fig.  i.  The  ball  U  being  finished  and  fastened 
to  the  wall  similarly  to  Z,  above  described,  as  shown 
at  R,  Fig.  7.  T,  in  Fig.  7,  shows  the  connection  of 
the  kitchen  sink  faucets  which  have  extra  long  and 
heavy  barrels  screwed  into  ball  S,  which  is  similar  to 
that  at  M,  Fig.  6,  S,  Fig.  7,  is  a  detail  of  the  wall 
fastenings  at  S,  Fig.  i.  The  ceiling  hangers  in  that 
figure  are  the  same,  except  that  shank  N  is  made 
longer. 

V,  Fig.  7,  shows  the  arrangement  of  any  two  of 
the  pipes  at  V,  Fig.  2.  The  special  corner  valve  a 
and  tee-bend  b  are  clearly  shown  at  a  and  b,  Fig.  7. 
S,  Fig.  7,  shows  the  connection  of  drip  pipe  Y,  Fig.  2. 
E,  Fig.  8,  shows  the  arrangement  at  E,  Fig.  5;  e,f, 
and  g  show  the  details  of  special  fittings  at  E  ;  C, 
Fig.  8,  shows  the  drip  cock  at  C,  Fig.  5.  In  Figs.  7 
and  8  the  letters  W,  T,  X,  and  V  have  the  same 
meaning,  and  it  will  be  seen  that  care  was  taken  to 
secure  uniformity  and  simplicity  in  their  design,  and 
to  avoid  unnecessary  separate  parts.  The  ball  con- 
nections are  all  essentially  similar,  except  that  the 
internal  waterways  and  the  special  bends,  tees,  and 
unions  admit  a  very  simple  and  close  arrangement  of 
intersecting  pipes,  while  they  dispense  with  separate 
additional  hanger  pieces,  and  secure  strength  and 
stiffness. 

Figure  9  shows  an  adjustable  pipe  hanger  and  an 
adjustable  floor  strainer.  The  former  was  used 
where  a  single  pipe  was  to  be  supported  from  a 
wooden  joist  or  board.  Its  stem  N  was  made  long, 
and  fitted  the  socket  in  the  top  of  the  escutcheon 


base  E.  The  stem  N  was  cut  to  any  required  length 
and  fastened  in  position  by  a  screw  S,  of  any  desired 
length  to  penetrate  to  the  proper  firmness.  After  S 
is  driven  pipe  P  is  put  in  place  and  yoke  Y  screwed 
on.  For  lengths  A,  of  less  than  3^  inches,  stem  N 
and  base  E  were  cast  in  one  piece,  and  for  very  long 
lengths  of  A  stem  N  was  screwed  into  base  E,  which 
was  tapped  to  receive  a  screw  in  the  bottom,  as 
shown  at  S  and  in  other  details,  Figs.  7  and  8. 

In  the  strainer-plate,  for  bathroom  flow  wastes, 
etc.,  the  brass  waste  pipe  P  has  a  flaring  tap  T  and 
separate  perforated  cap  C,  and  the  two  screw  joints 
A  and  B  afford  sufficient  play  to  adjust  the  cap 
exactly  for  a  difference  of  an  inch  or  more  in  the 
position  of  the  floor  slab,  without  altering  the  length 
of  the  pipe. 


PLUMBING  IN  A  COUNTRY  RESIDENCE  AT 
SEABRIGHT,  N.  J. 

(PUBLISHED  IN   1889.) 

"  ROHALLION,"  the  residence  of  Edward  D.  Adams, 
Esq.,  at  Rumson,  near  Seabnght,  N.  J.,  comprises 
a  large,  isolated  house,  with  conservatory,  stables, 
etc.,  remote  from  public  water,  gas,  or  sewer  lines. 
Modern  conveniences  and  improvements  are  supplied 
throughout,  and  as  illustrative  of  an  entirely  inde- 
pendent and  self-contained  system  of  plumbing,  a 
description  of  the  general  features  and  some  details 
are  given  that  are  not  otherwise  remarkable. 

The  buildings  were  designed,  and  their  construction 
supervised  by  the  architects,  McKim,  Mead  &  White, 
of  New  York  and  the  plumbing  and  drainage  was 
done  by  S.  &  A.  Clarke,  also  of  New  York 

Abundance  of  hard  water  is  obtained  from  a  private 
well,  6  feet  in  diameter  and  about  50  feet  deep, 
through  red  clay. 

Rainwater  from  the  house  roofs  is  stored  in  a  cistern. 

The  house-drams,  soil  pipes,  stable  drains,  etc., 
empty  into  the  drain  pipes,  6  inches  in  diameter,  that 
empty  into  sealed  brick  cesspools,  whose  contents  are 
automatically  disposed  of  by  subsurface  irrigation 
through  2-inch  unglazed  tile  pipes. 

The  house  and  stable  has  each  an  independent 
sewerage  system  with  about  1,000  feet  of  irragation 
pipe,  occupying  a  total  area  of  about  one  acre  of 
meadow  land. 

The  cistern  water  is  raised  to  a  i.ooo-gallon  roof 
tank  by  a  Ryder  gas  engine  pump,  and  is  distributed 
thence  throughout  the  house  for  all  purposes,  except 
flushing  cisterns  and  slopsinks,  which  are  supplied 
with  well  water  at  a  head  of  about  15  feet  at  the 
highest  fixture. 

Well  water  is  also  supplied  to  the  butler's  pantry 
and  kitchen  sink. 

A  wooden  water-tower  furnishes  a  high  and  a  low- 
pressure  service  and  has  a  windmill  to  operate  the 
pump.  The  tower  is  built  in  a  conspicuous  location, 
and  is  designed  to  present  an  attractive  appearance 
and  afford  a  commanding  prospect  from  its  observa- 
tory gallery. 

Figure  2  is  a  vertical  section  of  the  tower  at  Z  Z, 
Fig.  3,  and  Fig.  3  is  a  horizontal  section  at  Z  Z,  Fig. 
2.  A  is  the  Hercules  windmill,  built  by  the  George 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


37 


L.  Squires  Manufacturing  Company,  Buffalo,  N.  Y.. 
for  an  estimated  daily  service  of  raising  10,000  gal- 
lons of  water  90  feet.  The  mill  is  about  14  feet  high 
and  12  feet  in  diameter,  with  vertical  axis.  Its  sails 
are  vertical  wooden  slats  whose  angle  with  the  cir" 
cumference  is  easily  adjustable;  they  may  be  closed 
so  as  to  receive  no  impulse  from  the  wind,  or  set  open 
to  work  at  different  speeds. 

At  the  right  of  the  figure  they  are  shown  closed,  so 
as  to  stop  the  mill,  and  at  the  left  open  as  for  work- 
ing. B  is  the  observatory  gallery,  reached  by  stairs 
not  here  shown.  C  is  a  s.soo-gallon  tank  for  house 
and  fire  service.  D  is  a  xy.soo-gallon  tank  for  all 
other  needs — viz.:  stables,  conservatory,  irrigation, 
etc.  The  lower  tcory  of  the  tower  is  used  for  storing 
garden  implements,  etc. 

C  and  D  are  both  coopered  wooden  tanks  that  re- 
ceive their  supply  from  the  adjacent  well  through  the 
2-inch  pump  delivery  pipe  T.  In  winter  only  tank  D 
is  used,  and  tank  C  is  cut  off  by  closing  valve  G.  A 


branch  from  pump  pipe  T  has  a  ball  cock  H  and  a 
valve  at  U  (accidently  omitted  in  Fig.  2), 

In  summer  both  tanks  are  used,  and  their  opera- 
tion is  as  follows:  Valve  G  being  opened  and  U 
closed,  pipe  T  delivers  into  tank  C.  When  C  is 
nearly  full  it  overflows  into  D  through  the  stand-pipe 
Y  until  D  is  full  and  the  ball  cock  I  closes;  the  water 
then  rises  above  Y  in  C  and  closes  ball  cock  E.  The 
pump,  still  working,  exerts  a  pressure  in  the  small 
cylinder  N,  and  raises  its  piston  M,  which  operates 
a  connecting-rod  (shown  broken  off  at  V)  that  stops 
the  windmill  A  that  drives  the  pump.  As  soon  as 
any  water  is  used  from  tank,  ball  cock  E  is  opened, 
the  pressure  is  relieved  in  chamber  N,  and  the  weight 
of  piston  M  pulls  it  down  and  set  the  windmill  sails 


PLUMBING   IN   A  COUNTRY   RESIDENCE,    SEABRIGHT,    N.    J. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


ready  to  run  again;  by  this  arrangement  tank  C  is 
always  filled  first.  In  winter  valve  G  is  closed  and 
U  opened  and  tank  D  only  is  used.  W  is  a  i  J^-inch 
overflow,  with  branch  X  from  tank  D.  R  is  a  2-inch 
supply  pipe  from  tank  C  to  the  house,  and  is  con- 
trolled by  valve  F.  S  is  a  2-inch  supply  pipe  from 
tank  D  to  the  stables,  and  it  is  controlled  by  valve  ]. 
Q  is  a  cut-off  valve  ordinarily  closed,  but  it  may  be 
opened  and  give  high  pressure  to  the  stable  system, 
or  an  additional  low-pressure  supply  to  the  house 


There  is  a  flagstone  cap  B  with  a  manhole  closed  by 
the  iron  cover  A. 

Figure  4  is  a  vertical  section  at  W  W,  Fig.  5,  and 
Fig,  5  is  a  horizontal  section  at  Z  Z,  Fig.  4.  Up  to 
a  point  above  the  level  of  the  6-inch  overflow  pipe  H, 
the  cistern  is  divided  by  a  filter  partition  composed 
of  two  4-inch  Portland  cement-laid  brick  walls,  Dand 
D,  with  the  4-inch  space  E  between  them  filled  with 
charcoal.  The  water  is  received  in  chamber  L,  and 
percolates  rapidly  through  walls  D  and  D  to  chamber 


PLUMBING  IN   A   COUNTRY   RESIDENCE,   SEABRIGHT 


system.  K  is  a  check-valve  to  prevent  tank  C  from 
emptying  into  D  when  Q  is  opened.  O  is  a  key  valve, 
and  P  is  a  draw  cock. 

Figures'  4  and  5  are  sections  of  the  house  cistern  for 
rainwater,  which  is  received  through  the  4-inch  leader 
G.  The  cistern  is  15x20  feet,  with  i2-inch  cement- 
lined  brick  walls  C,  laid  directly  on  the  smoothed 
clay  surface  of  the  excavation  near  the  house. 


M,  whence  it  is  pumped  to  roof  tank  through  the  ij£- 
inch  suction  pipe  F  with  basket  strainer  I. 

The  house  is  supplied  with  well  water  by  the  2- 
inch  galvanized- iron  pipe  R,  Fig.  2,  and  with  cistern 
water  by  a  ij^-inch  pipe  from  roof  tank.  Pipe  R 
serves  as  a  direct  fire  line  to  three  hose  cocks  in  the 
house,  one  on  each  floor,  and  to  one  inside  and  one 
outside  of  the  stable. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


The  2-inch  pipe  S,  Fig.  2,  is  direct  to  the  stable, 
and  has  ^  and  i-inch  branches  supplying  water  for 
sprinkling  the  lawn  and  garden  and  for  the  conser- 
vatories, etc. 

In  the  kitchen,  and  elsewhere  that  they  are  ex- 
posed, the  water  pipes  are  of  brass,  tin-lined  and 
nickel-plated;  where  not  exposed  they  are  of  galvan- 
ized iron. 

There  is  a  kitchen  boiler  and  sink,  independent 
laundry  boiler  and  tubs,  butler's  sink,  one  chamber- 
maid's slopsink,  one  toilet-room  with  washbowl  only, 
one  with  water-closet  only,  and  one  private  and  one 
guests' bathroom  with  washbowl,  bathtub,  and  water- 
closet,  and  one  servant's  bathroom  with  tub,  wash- 
bowl, and  water-closet. 

The  stable,  built  for  10  horses  and  four  cows,  has 
one  watering-trough,  a  number  of  convenient  draw 
cocks  and  hose  cocks,  a  washroom  sink  and  a  water- 
closet.  In  the  upper  parts  of  the  building  are  apart- 
ments for  the  coachman's  and  gardener's  families, 
These  each  contain  a  set  of  laundry  tubs,  kitchen 
boiler  and  sink,  one  washbowl,  one  bathtub,  and  one 
water-closet. 

Figure  6  shows  the  arrangement  of  kitchen  boiler 
A,  whose  cold-water  supply  is  through  pipe  C. 

D  is  hot-water  upstairs,  F  is  hot-water  to  lower 
floor  (and  may  be  connected  to  supply  or  receive 
from  laundry  boiler),  and  E  is  the  hot-water  return- 
circulation  pipe. 

H  H  are  circulation  pipes  to  the  water-back,  and  I 
is  the  sediment  pipe  emptying  boiler  and  water-back. 
G  is  a  relief  pipe  from  boiler  and  terminates  in  a 
vacuum  drip  valve  K  over  the  kitchen  sink,  Fig.  7. 
B  B  are  heavy  wrought-iron  brackets  bolted  through 
the  wall. 

Figure  7  shows  the  kitchen  sink  and  two  wash- 
tubs  provided  for  use  when  it  is  not  convenient  to 
use  the  laundry. 

A  is  pipe  supplying  well  water,  B  is  hot-water  pipe, 
and  C  is  cold-water  pipe. 


Figure  8  shows  the  washbowl  in  private  bathroom. 
The  table  and  wall  and  floor  slabs  are  of  red  Knox- 
ville  marble,  and  the  metal-work  is  nickel-plated. 

Figure  q  shows  the  hostlers'  water-closet  on  the  first 
floor  of  the  stables.  A  is  a  slate  slab  and  B  is  asphalt 
tiling.  The  room  is  ceiled  with  yellow  pine,  oiled, 
and  there  is  an  automatic  cistern  flushing  the  urinal. 

Figure  10  is  a  view  of  the  washroom  on  the  first 
floor  of  the  stables.  The  floor  is  tiled  with  asphalt 
and  the  walls  ceiled  with  yellow  pine,  oiled.  The 
large  iron  sink  B  is  furnished  with  hot  and  cold 
water,  and  is  intended  chiefly  for  washing  the  harness. 

The  cold-water  supply  is  controlled  by  cock  A,  and 
has  branch  C  to  sink,  and  I  to  the  boiler.  H  is  the 
hot-water  from  the  boiler.  The  water  circulates  from 
the  boiler  to  the  water-back  and  return  through  pipes 
F  and  E.  G  is  a  sediment  cock  for  emptying  the 
boiler. 


PLUMBING  IN   A   COUNTRY   RESIDENCE,   SEABRIGHT,   N.    J. 


4f> 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


PLUMBING    IN    A    NEW   YORK    CITY    RESI- 
DENCE. 

(PUBLISHED  IN    1892.) 

THE  residence  of  Kalmar  Hass,  Esq.,  on  East 
Sixty-ninth  Street,  New  York  City,  is  a  four-story 
brownstone-front  house,  which  has  just  been  com- 
pleted according  to  plans  and  specifications  of  John 
H.  Duncan,  architect.  Its  elaborate  plumbing-work, 
which  presents  interesting  arrangements  and  detail, 
was  executed  by  Paul  S.  Bolger,  of  New  York.  The 
entire  second  floor  of  the  house  is  shown  in  plan  in 
Fig.  i  of  the  accompanying  illustrations,  and  in  ver- 
tical section  at  Z  Z,  Fig.  i,  in  Fig.  2.  Figures  3  to  6 
inclusive  show  plans  at  U  U,  V  V,  X  X,  and  Y  Y, 


Fig.  2,  respectively.  From  these  it  will  be  seen  that, 
excepting  the  boilers  and  sink  in  the  basement  kitchen, 
there  are  no  plumbing  pipes  or  fixtures  whatever  in 
the  main  building,  and,  excepting  the  basement 
laundry  tubs  and  the  butler's  sink,  all  the  plumbing 
is  in  the  special  brick-walled  tower,  which  absolutely 
isolates  all  the  baths  and  water-closets  and  the  soil 
and  vent  pipe  risers  to  which  all  fixtures  are  con- 
nected. 

In  the  second  and  third  floor  toilet-rooms  the  wash- 
bowls W  B,  W  B,  Fig.  i,  are  entirely  unconnected 
with  any  plumbing.  Stationary  oval  bowls  are  set 
in  marble  tables,  but  are  fitted  only  with  overflow 
and  waste  terminating  in  a  long,  vertical  ferru1" 


Servants  I  ~  I  Servants 

Chamber    *  Chamber 

— --—  '  •** 

5 


Scale   of  Feet. 


PLUMBING   IN   A   NEW   YORK  CITY   RESIDENCE. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


41 


which  discharges  into  a  special  movable  brass  nickel- 
plated  sloppail,  the  bottom  of  which  is  cushioned  by 
a  rubber-bearing  ring  sprung  over  a  groove  made  for 
it  in  the  flange.  The  water  is  supplied  by  pitchers. 
All  the  rising  lines,  12  to  the  second  floor  and  nine 
to  the  tank  floor,  are  carried  together  in  the  corner 
S  of  the  tower,  where  they  are  run  behind  a  movable 
panel,  which  incloses  them  and  leaves  them  entirely 
accessible. 

A  double  water- back  in  the  kitchen  range  is  con- 
nected with  two  loo-gallon  boilers.  One  of  them  is 
double,  providing  hot  water  under  street  and  tank 
pressure  for  all  purposes  except  for  the  second-floor 
bathroom,  which  only  is  supplied  by  the  other  boiler 
under  street  pressure.  Connecting  pipes  and  valves 
are  so  arranged  that  this  boiler  may  easily  be  put 
under  tank  pressure,  or  its  hot  water  may  be  turned 
into  the  delivery  pipe  from  either  of  the  other  boilers, 
as  for  an  excessive  demand  by  the  laundry  tubs,  or 
that  the  double  boiler  can  at  pleasure  be  made  to 
deliver  to  the  second-floor  bathroom,  the  principal 


consideration  being,  however,  to  afford  a  discharge 
for  the  bath  boiler  if  its  water  is  not  required  for  the 
second-floor  bathroom  and  becomes  too  hot. 

The  kitchen  boilers  are  shown  in  diagram  in  Fig. 
14.  A  is  the  double  boiler  for  general  house  supply, 
the  inside  part  being  under  tank  and  the  outside 
part  under  street  pressure.  B  is  the  special  bath 
boiler.  Both  boilers  are  heated  from  the  kitchen 
range  C  by  the  circulation  pipes  D  D  D  D.  The  cold- 
water  supply  comes  from  the  city  mains  by  the  pipe 
E,  with  branches  F  F  F  to  supply  the  boilers  and  G 
to  supply  the  basement  fixtures  and  the  butler's 
pantry.  The  cold  supply  from  the  attic  tank  is  by 
pipe  H,  filling  the  boilers  through  pipes  K  K.  The 
special  hot  delivery  L  connects  with  the  second-floor 
bathroom  and  may  be  put  into  communication  with 
the  street-pressure  house  boiler  through  pipe  M  by 
opening  valve  N,  which  is  usually  closed.  The  street- 
pressure  hot-water  delivery  O  connects  with  all  base- 
ment and  cellar  fixtures.  Tank  pressure  hot  water 
is  delivered  to  the  upper  floors  through  P,  and  Q  Q 
are  hot-water  return-circulation  pipes.  The  sediment 
pipes  R  R  discharge  into  a  cellar  sink.  S  are  the  soil 
and  vent  risers,  etc.  shown  in  shaft  S,  Figs.  1,4,  5. 
Ordinarily,  valves  T  T  T  N  and  U,  which  admit  tank 
pressure  to  the  special  boiler,  are  closed  and  all 
others  are  open.  Check  valves  I  I  are  provided, 
opening  up  with  street  pressure  against  the  tank 


Marble 

Cement— -%$$£& 

Asbestos 

Cement 

Iron 


THE.  ENGINEERING  RECORD 
PLUMBING  IN  A  NEW  YORK  CITY  RESIDENCE. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


pressure,  to  prevent  the  possibility  o£  the  escape  of 
tank  water  into  the  street  mains.  The  check  valve 
J,  which  is  soldered  shut,  acts  as  a  stop»between  the 
tank  and  street  pressure  hot  water,  and  is  placed 
there  to  preserve  a  symmetrical  appearance.  V  V 
are  dummy  valves  with  the  wings  removed  so  that  it 
is  impossible  to  close  them.  They  are  placed  there 
only  for  the  sake  of  uniformity  of  appearance. 


The  second-floor  bathroom,  shown  in  enlarged 
plan  in  Fig.  7,  has  a  white  marble  floor,  high  wall 
panels  and  an  ornamental  domed  ceiling.  It  is 
attractive  for  its  elegance,  spaciousness,  and  for  its 
unique  sunken  bath,  which  is  lined  with  white  marble 
and  forms  a  large  pool  below  the  floor  level,  and  is 
reached  by  descending  marble  steps.  It  is  supplied 
with  hot  and  cold  water  issuing  from  a  dolphin's  head 
at  R,  the  supply  being  controlled  by  valves  P  P. 


7nf.  ENGINEERING  ff£co/ri> 


Chamber 


(J  hamper 


PLUMBING  IN   A   NEW   YORK   CITY   RESIDENCE. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


43- 


An  overflow  and  waste  valve  O  allows  of  emptying 
the  bath  through  strainer  N.  The  movable  panel  M 
allows  of  access  to  all  the  risers.  Of  these  A  is  the 
soil  pipe,  B  back-air  pipe,  C  D  and  E  respectively 
special  cold  and  hot  supply  and  return-circulation 
pipes  from  the  separate  boiler  serving  this  room  only. 
The  hot  and  cold-water  supplies  and  the  hot-water 
return-circulation  pipes  serving  the  upper  floors  are 
indicated  by  F  G  and  H.  Other  reference  letters 
signify:  I,  the  cold-water  supply  pipe  from  the  tank; 
J,  the  pump  delivery  pipe  to  the  tank;  K  the  sate 
waste  pipe;  and  T  a  telltale  pipe. 

An  outline  section  and  elevation  at  Z  Z,  Fig,  7,  of 
the  sunken  bath  is  given  in  Fig.  8,  showing  the 
deeply  countersunk  8-inch  marble  slab  L,  lining  the 


mvt 


the  smoking-room,  and  about  3  feet  below  the  wooden 
joist  of  the  bathroom  floor.  This  tank  was  carefully 
calked  water-tight  and  painted;  then  a  thick  bed  of 
cement  mortar  was  spread  on  the  bottom,  a  thick 
layer  of  loose  fibrous  asbestos  was  pressed  down  on 
it  before  it  set,  and  another  thin  layer  of  cement 
mortar  immediately  placed  on  top  of  the  asbestos  to 
receive  the  marble  bottom  slab  of  the  bathtub  lining. 
The  sides  were  done  in  exactly  the  same  manner, 
and  finally  the  floor  marble  was  laid,  covering  the 
edges.  The  asbestos  was  designed  to  prevent  radia- 
tion of  heat,  and  it  was  intended  to  have  its  fibers 
cohere  thoroughly  to  the  cement. 

Figure  12  shows  the  connection  of  the  waste  pipe 
and  strainer  N,  Fig.  6.  The  brass  waste  A,  con- 
nected to  a  unique  overflow  valve  O,  Figs.  7  and  q, 
has  an  extra  heavy  flange  threaded  to  receive  the 


TH£fHG/M££fi'MCff(CO>,'D  ' 


V -*-*<--- 

*5  '--v  \» 


CcOR 
PLUMBING  IN   A  NEW  YORK  CITY   RESIDENCE. 


bottom  of  the  tub.  A  perspective  from  Q,  Fig.  7,  is 
given  in  Fig.  9,  showing  one  end  of  the  tub  and  its 
valves  P  P  O,  which  may  be  readily  operated  with- 
out leaving  the  tub.  Ths  perspective  from  point  X, 
Fig.  7,  given  in  Fig.  10  shows  the  exposed  silver- 
plated  piping  for  the  not  and  cold-water  supplies  and 
indicates  the  arrangement  of  the  waste  and  vent 
pipes  in  the  chambers  formed  by  the  double  flows 
between  the  marble  tiling  and  the  bottom  of  the 
bathtub.  The  connections  to  the  risers  of  the 
branches  serving  this  room  are  indicated  by  dotted 
lines  on  Fig.  7.  E  is  a  connection  for  a  gas  stove, 
and  C  is  the  water-closet  flush  tank  entirely  con- 
cealed behind  the  marble  wainscoting.  As  it  is  im- 
practicable to  draw  water  here  for  household  use  in 
pitchers  or  other  portable  vessels  from  the  bath  or 
basin  cocks,  the  two  self-closing  hot  and  cold-water 
cocks  D  D  have  been  set  at  the  side  of  the  washstand 
for  the  housemaids'  use,  and  a  similar  arrangement 
is  provided  in  the  third-floor  bathroom. 

The  sunken  bath  is  surrounded  by  a  special  boiler- 
iron  tank,  Fig.  n,  calked  water-tight  and  supported  on 
four  special  rolled  iron  I  beams  L  L  L  L,  Fig.  7,  which 
are  built  into  the  tower  walls,  just  above  the  dome  of 


special  sleeve  B,  which  screws  down  and  tightly 
grips  the  bottom  plate  of  the  tank,  making  a  tight 
joint  by  compressing  the  gasket  D  and  packing  E. 
The  sleeve  B  receives  the  extra  heavy  neck  of  strainer 
N,  which  may  be  removed  at  will.  Figure  13  is  a  view 
of  the  i.ooo-gallon  house  tank  on  the  fourth  floor  of 
the  tower.  It  is  built  of  2-inch  boards,  and  stands  in 
a  lead  safe.  It  is  filled  through  the  i^-inchpipej 
and  ball  cock  B,  which  admits  water  from  the  street 
mains  during  the  night  when  the  pressure  is  suffi- 
cient to  rise  to  this  height,  but  provision  has  been 
made  to  convert  J  into  the  delivery  pipe  for  a  force 
pump,  if  necessary,  when  the  cock  B  would  be  re- 
moved. A  is  a  i^-inch  overflow  discharging  into 
the  fourth-floor  slopsink.  C  is  a  3^-inch  telltale  dis- 
charging, together  with  the  safe  waste,  into  the  base- 
ment sink.  D  D  are  relief  pipes  from  the  highest 
points  of  the  hot-water  circulation  systems,  and  are 
provided  with  a  ball  cock  F,  which  is  set  3  inches 
higher  than  B  so  as  always  to  remain  open  unless  the 
street  pressure  in  the  boiler  should  cause  their  water 
to  rise  above  Z  Z,  and  escaping  through  D  D  to  fill 
the  tank  to  nearly  the  height  of  telltale  C,  when  it 
would  close  until  some  water  was  drawn. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


PLUMBING  IN  MR.  C.  P.  HUNTINGTON'S 
RESIDENCE. 

(PUBLISHED   IN   1894.) 

THE  house  just  being  completed  for  Collis  P.  Hunt- 
ington,  Esq.,  at  Fifty-seventh  Street  and  Fifth 
Avenue,  New  York  City,  by  Architect  George  B. 
Post,  is  a  large  and  costly  edifice  designed  to  provide 
every  modern  requirement  for  the  convenience  of  the 
family,  guests,  and  numerous  servants,  and  is 
equipped  with  a  complete  and  elaborate  plant  for 
heating,  ventilating,  lighting,  drainage,  elevator  ser- 
vice, and  gas  and  water  distribution.  The  sanitary 
arrangements  are  extensive  and  complete,  conform- 
ing to  standard'  advanced  metropolitan  practice,  and 
embrace  kitchen,  laundry,  and  bath  and  toilet-room 
service,  besides  an  extensive  swimming  pool  and 
Turkish  bath  installation,  and  the  necessary  heating 


meters,  pumps,  etc.,  and  the  approximate  arrange- 
ment of  the  horizontal  distribution  pipes  in  the  cellar. 
The  cold-water  distributing  pipe  A,  Fig.  i.  supplies 
1 6  separate  lines  or  groups  of  fixtures  through 
branches  three- fourths,  i,  ij£,  and  2  inches  in  diame- 
ter, which  in  general  are  carried  along  the  cellar 
ceiling  and  are  connected  with  vertical  risers  direct 
to  the  line  of  fixtures.  Alongside  each  street  pressure 
pipe«is  an  equal  sized  tank  water  cold  supply  pipe 
and  a  hot  water  supply  and  a  ^-inch  circulation  pipe 
under  both  street  and  tank  pressure,  making  a  group 
of  six  parallel  adjacent  pipes  on  all  lines,  which  are 
generally  carried  up  in  boxes  in  wall  recesses  which 
are  afterwards  covered  with  wire  lath  and  inaccessibly 
plastered  in.  At  the  foot  of  each  riser  is  a  con- 
trolling valve  and  just  above  it  an  emptying  valve 
and  waste  pipe. 


Cellar   Plan 

Showing  horizontal  lines  of  pipes. 


Key 


Scale  of  Feel  r  •"«"*"(  WfeH 

PLUMBING   IN   MR.    C.    P.    HUNTINGTON'S  RESIDENCE,    NEW  YORK   CITY. 


boilers,  tanks,  filters,  and  pump  connections,  which 
comprehend  a  more  complicated  and  extensive  sys- 
tem than  is  provided  in  some  important  public 
edifices.  The  contract  for  plumbing  and  gasfitting 
was  awarded  to  Messrs.  Rossman  &  Bracken,  and 
partly  from  their  contract  drawings  and  largely  from 
our  notes  and  sketches  made  on  the  premises,  we 
illustrate  some  of  the  principal  features  and  details 
of  the  work. 

Three-inch  water  supplies  are  taken  from  the  street 
mains  on  Fifth  Avenue  and  Fifty-seventh  Street,  and 
each  is  connected  with  a  2-inch  Worthington  meter 
with  inlet  and  outlet  valves.  These  meters  are  di- 
rectly connected  by  a  2  inch  pipe  with  check  valves 
at  each  side  so  that  water  cannot  escape  from  one  me- 
ter through  the  other.  The  entire  supply  can  thus  be 
drawn  from  either  main,  or  the  supply  for  the  swim- 
ming bath  can  be  drawn  from  either  main  and  the 
rest  of  the  supply  from  the  other  main.  Figure  i  is 
a  plan  showing  the  location  of  the  boilers,  filters, 


Figure  2  is  a  conventional  elevation  of  riser  lines 
on  one  of  the  vertical  sections  of  the  house.  Each 
vertical  pipe  terminates  in  an  air  chamber  on  top, 
and  just  below  it,  on  the  hot-water  pipes,  is  branched 
off  the  circulation  return  pipe.  Then  at  each  floor 
served,  branches  from  both  hot  pipes  are  connected 
to  a  cut-off  valve  as  V,  from  which  the  distribution 
branch  H  is  taken  Similarly  the  cold-water  tank 
and  street  pipes  are  connected  to  a  cut-off  valve  W, 
from  which  the  distribution  branch  C  is  taken.  All 
the  cut-off  valves  are  set  so  that  when  their  handles 
are  turned  to  the  right,  as  shown,  tank  pressure  is  on 
and  street  pressure  is  cut  off.  When  they  are  turned 
to  the  left  street  pressure  is  on  and  tank  pressure  is 
cut  off,  and  when  they  are  turned  half-way,  so  as  to 
be  at  right  angles  to  the  wall,  both  street  and  tank 
pressures  are  cut  off. 

The  main  i  j^-inch  tank  supply  leads  directly  to  the 
cellar,  and  there  distributes  through  12  ceiling  i  and 
1 14-inch  branches.  The  main  hot  street  and  tank 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


48 


supplies  ate  1^2  inches  diameter,  and  have  direct 
connections  to  eight  and  to  five  lines  respectively. 
Water  supply  is  arranged  for  direct  street  pressure 
to  the  fourth-  story  bathrooms  and  all  fixtures  below 
and  for  tank  pressure  in  the  fifth  and  fourth  stories. 
It  is  also  so  that  the  entire  building,  or  any  part  of  it, 
can  be  supplied  with  either  street  or  tank  pressure. 
The  roof  tank  is  filled  by  an  Ericsson  hot-air  pump- 
ing engine  with  1 2-inch  cylinder,  which  draws  from 
an  open  suction  tank  supplied  from  the  meters.  The 
air  chamber  is  of  galvanized-iron  pipe,  6x36  inches, 
with  a  i^-inch  stop  and  waste  cock.  Beside  this  the 
street  and  tank  main  supply  pipes  each  have  a  verti- 
cal i6-inch  cylindrical  air  chamber  5  feet  high.  The 
suction  and  discharge  pipes  are  also  connected  with 
an  auxiliary  electric  pump  and  a  2-inch  cylinder 
double-action  Douglas  hand-power  pump  with  i  j^- 


third,  fifth,  and  cellar  stories,  each  with  ^-inch  hot 
and  cold-water  supply.  There  are  two  iron  drip  and 
draw  sinks  in  the  cellar  and  three  porcelain  sinks, 
one  each  in  the  kitchen,  scullery,  and  butler's  pantry. 
There  is  one  urinal  in  the  first  floor  toilet-room. 
There  are  throughout  the  house  20  washbasins,  all 
with  ground  top  flange  clamped  to  a  marble  slab 
with  silver  or  nickel-plated  cast-brass  legs  and 
frames  and  patent  wastes. 

In  the  second  and  third  stories  are  six  porcelain 
roll-rim  decorated  bathtubs  on  marble  legs,  and  in 
other  stories  are  three  porcelain-lined  roll-rim  cast- 
iron  bathtubs.  In  the  boudoir  bathroom  is  a  decorated 
porcelain  roll-top  sitz  bathtub  with  silver-plated  fit- 
ings.  The  other  tubs  are  plain  with  nickel-plated 
fittings  and  the  bathrooms  are  finished  with  white 
marble  and  ceramic  tiles.  On  the  first  floor  is  a 


FiG.2 

Diagram   of 
System  of  Water  Supply  Pipes 


c  i 


{^.Pressure  Pipes 
iTcircubt'or,  "  ^— x— x— x- 
Tank  »  — O— *« — «« — "• 

I  f.ti  "C 

Jtl_u! 


H-b 


IB  Floor  Lint 


J/B  /'/pej  • 


Basement  Floor  Line 


Ti 


ffff 


Tfrrf 


<7e//<}/-  /Vco/-  ime 


PLUMBING   IN    MR.    C     P.    HUNTINGTON  S   RESIDENCE,    NEW   YORK    CITY. 


inch  suction,  and  discharge  is  provided  for  the  pur- 
pose of  emptying  the  contents  of  the  boiler  pit  cess- 
pool, which  is  below  the  sewer  level. 

The  suction  tank  is  5  feet  in  diameter  and  5  feet 
high  with  a  %  inch  iron  top  and  is  automatically  sup- 
plied through  a  i-inch  pipe  and  ball  cock  and  open 
valve,  or  at  will  through  a  i  J^-inch  pipe  and  valve. 
There  is  also  an  attic  house  tank,  two  hot-water 
boilers,  a  laundry  and  a  kitchen  boiler,  and  two 
swimming-bath  boilers.  There  are  15  water-closets, 
situated  one  in  the  cellar,  four  in  the  basement,  one 
in  the  first  story,  three  in  the  second  story,  three  *n 
the  third  story,  one  in  the  fourth,  and  two  in  the  fifth 
story.  There  is  one  slopsink  in  each  of  the  second, 


swimming  bath,  need!e  bath,  shower  bath,  and  two 
shampoos.  In  the  laundry  are  four  white  porcelain 
wash  trays. 

All  waste  and  soil  pipe  connections  to  the  main 
lines  are  2  inches  diameter  for  washbasins  and  sinks, 
3  inches  for  slopsinks,  and  4  inches  for  water-closets. 
Vent  pipes  are  1*4  inches  for  i^-inch  and  2-inch 
traps  and  grease  traps,  and  2  inches  for  3-inch  traps 
and  water-closet  traps.  All  2-mch  vent  pipes  are 
galvanized  or  rustless  wrought  iron ;  other  sizes  are 
cast  iron .  All  brass  pipes  are  extra  heavy  seamless 
tubing,  tinned  inside  and  outside,  except  where  ex- 
posed, where  they  are  polished  and  nickel-plated, 
and  are  subject  to  a  one-year  written  guarantee.  All 


46 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


horizontal  pipes  are  run  in  four  and  six-pound  lead 
safes  which,  where  in  contact  with  cement  or  con- 
crete, are  painted  with  two  coats.  All  safe  waste 
pipes  in  the  cellar  discharge  through  horizontal  ends 
with  hinged  flap  valves  and  engraved  brass  labels. 

Waste  and  soil  pipes  have  3-foot  lead  pipe  connec- 
tions of  thfe  following  weights:  ij^-inch  pipe,  3^ 
pounds  per  foot;  2  inch,  four  pounds;  3-inch,  six 
pounds;  4-inch,  eight  pounds.  All  lead  waste  and 
soil  pipes  in  contact  with  cement  or  concrete,  also 
have  two  coats  of  paint.  The  concealed  traps  to 
bathtubs  are  of  extra  heavy  lead  with  brass  screws. 
All  others  are  of  cast  solid  brass,  nickel-plated,  full 
S,  i^-inch  for  washbasins,  2  and  3  inches  for  sinks 
and  washtrays,  and  3  inches  for  slopsinks.  Traps  in 
the  cellar  are  cast-iron  with  brass  screws.  Tucker 
No.  2  grease  traps  are  provided  in  the  kitchen  and 
scullery  sinks.  All  exposed  pipes  connected  with 
brass  and  porcelain  traps  are  of  nickel-plated  brass. 
All  vertical  vent  pipes  are  connected  to  soil  or  wastes 
below  the  bottom  fixtures  so  as  to  discharge  into 
them  freely  any  water,  rust,  or  other  accumulation. 
All  cast-iron  pipes  and  fittings  have  two  coats  of  oil 
paint  after  testing.  All  valves  are  of  Ludlow  make, 
of  steam  metal,  silver-plated  where  they  are  ex- 
posed to  view  above  the  cellar.  All  cocks  are  extra 
heavy  with  steam  metal  ground  keys.  All  cast  and 
galvanized  pipes  were  tested  with  water  pressure  of 
a  maximum  of  40  pounds. 

The  nine  main  vertical  rainwater  conductors 
have  a  handhole  and  brass  cap  in  the  foot  trap,  and 
are  connected  at  the  top  to  an  extra  heavy  3-foot 
length  of  lead  pipe  flanged  and  soldered  to  the 
copper  gutter.  All  drains  in  area,  yard  court,  and 
driveway  have  trapped  and  grated  cast-iron  cess- 
pools. In  the  refrigerator  room  are  three  and  in  the 
butler's  pantry  is  one  polished  nickel-plated  cast- 
brass  floor  pan  with  strainer  discharging  into  a  2- 
inch  waste  pipe  from  the  refrigerator  to  an  open  sink. 
In  the  vicinity  of  the  swimming  bath  are  n  cast- 
brass  cesspools  with  bell  traps  discharging  into  two 
2  inch  waste  pipes  which  empty  into  the  cellar  sink. 
Under  fixtures  marble  safes  are  provided  with  i^- 
inch  galvanized-iron  wastes  to  the  cellar  sink. 

Figure  3  shows  the  construction  and  connections  of 
the  attic  tank,  which  is  made  of  boiler-iron,  stayed, 
^'xs'x6'  high,  and  sets  in  a  four-pound  lead  safe- 
The  tank  is  furnished  with  floats  that  operate  a 
Bracken's  patent  electric  high  and  low  water  alarm 
•(not  here  shown),  which  rings  a  bell  near  the  pump 
in  the  basement,  where  there  is  also  a  gauge  indi- 
cating the  height  of  water  in  the  tank.  The  tank 
can  be  be  emptied  through  a  i  ^-inch  pipe  and  valve 
A,  and  the  house  supply  is  drawn  through  a  fine 
copper  strainer  in  the  bottom  of  the  tank  and  com- 
manded by  valve  B.  The  top  of  the  4-inch  overflow 
terminates  in  a  4"x4"xs"  T,  opening  upwards  so  as  to 
form  a  kind  of  funnel  to  receive  the  ends  of  the  vent 
and  expansion  pipes.  They  are  so  arranged  in  order 
that  if  any  but  hot  water  is  discharged  through  them 
it  may  be  wasted  instead  of  mixing  with  the  tank 
cold  water.  The  overflow  pipe  empties  directly  into 
the  roof  gutter,  and  its  waste  is  carried  off  to  the 
sewer  through  the  rainwater  leaders. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


Figure  4  shows  the  arrangement  and  connections 
of  the  hot-water  heating  boilers  and  air  chambers  in 
the  cellar,  the  location  of  which  is  indicated  at  G, 
Fig.  i.  The  function  of  the  pipes  and  the  opera- 
tion of  the  valves  is  in  general  clearly  shown  in 
the  drawing.  The  boilers  are  about  2'6"x6'  and  hold 
about  1 50  gallons  each.  They  are  entirely  separate 
and  independent,  one  being  connected  to  the  street 
pressure  and  the  other  to  the  tank  pressure  system. 

Each  brass  boiler  contains  a  so-foot  coil  of  i-inch 
brass  steam  pipe  which  is  accessible  through  hand- 
hole  H.  The  boilers  are  supported  at  the  rear  end 
by  being  built  into  the  wall  a  few  inches,  and  in 
front  rest  on  a  brick  pier  P.  A  is  a  special  street 
pressure  supply  to  the  tank  boiler. 

As  may  be  seen  from  Fig.  i,  the  main  distribution 
pipes  A  and  B  connect  all  branches,  and  secure  free 
communication  to  all  fixtures,  so  that  if  several 
faucets  should  be  quickly  closed  simultaneously, 
they  might  produce  a  cumulative  water  hammer. 
To  absorb  this  impact  Mr.  R.  Maynicke  provided 
two  large  air  chambers  C  C  to  furnish  adequate 
elastic  cushions  which  should  automatically  receive 
all  shocks  and  prevent  injurious  hammer.  These 
tanks  are  about  5  feet  long  and  16  inches  in  diame- 
ter, made  of  ^-inch  riveted  steel  plates,  and  com- 
municate with  the  mains  by  vertical  pipes,  open  at 
the  foot  and  extending  to  9  inches  from  the  bottom  of 
the  chambers.  When  the  water  supply  is  admitted 
to  the  system  it  enters  the  bottom  of  these  cylinders, 
and  soon  stealing  up  the  ends  of  the  pipes,  com- 
presses the  contained  air  until  its  pressure  is  uniform 
with  the  water,  and  it  occupies  a  proportionately  re- 
duced volume  in  the  top  of  the  chamber  and  expands 
and  contracts  in  conformity  with  the  variations  of 
pressure,  so  as  to  prevent  violent  strains  in  the  pipes. 
The  petcocks  K  K  are  set  a  few  inches  below  the 
tops  of  the  chambers  so  that  if  when  they  are  tried 
they  show  any  air,  the  system  will  be  efficient.  If, 
however,  the  air  becomes  absorbed  so  that  the  water 
rises  and  escapes  from  the  petcocks,  the  valves  B  B 
should  be  closed  and  S  S  and  K  K  opened  so  that  all 
the  water  will  escape  and  be  replaced  by  air  at 
atmospheric  pressure,  which,  when  the  valves  are  re- 
versed to  original  positions,  will  again  fill  the  upper 
parts  of  the  chamber  as  shown. 

The  fixtures  in  the  house  are  in  sets  in  approxi- 
mately vertical  lines  in  the  different  stories,  each 
group  being  served  by  a  line  of  vertical  risers  from 
the  main  horizontal  distribution  pipes  in  the  cellar, 
from  which  branches  are  taken  as  required  at  the  dif- 
ferent floors.  In  general  each  stack  of  risers  consists 
of  six  water  pipes,  besides  which  the  soil,  vent,  and 
safe  waste  pipes  maybe  carried  alongside  or  in  a  sep- 
arate place.  Figure  5  is  a  sketch  of  the  foot  of  one 
of  the  typical  groups  of  water  pipes  at  M,  Fig.  i,  and 
shows  the  arrangement  of  valves  for  controlling  and 
emptying  them. 

The  kitchen  work,  cooking,  laundry  work,  etc.,  are 
done  on  the  upper  floors,  and  tubs,  ranges,  refrigera- 
tors, etc.,  are  accordingly  set  there.  In  the  steward's 
room  are  two  refrigerators,  and  for  these  and  the 
tiled  floor  special  trapped  floor  strainers  are  provided. 
They  are  set  on  waste  pipes  which  have  a  combined 


length  of  nearly  100  feet  from  their  junction  with  the 
soil  pipe,  and  although  every  angle  is  commanded  by 
a  handhole  through  the  floor  and  a  cleaning-out 
screw,  a  special  arrangement  was  provided  for  flush- 
ing them  under  pressure  and  forcing  out  any  obstruc- 
tions that  may  find  lodgment  there.  This  is  accom- 
plished as  shown  in  Fig.  6.  The  flow  water,  etc.  is 
received  in  an  8-inch  brass  bowl  B  and  flows  through 
perforations  in  a  hollow  plug  P  into  the  elbow  A, 
which  is  screw- connected  to  the  waste  pipe.  If  it  is 
desired  to  flush  out  the  waste  pipes,  the  plug  P  is  re- 
moved, and  in  its  place  a  hose  nozzle  is  screwed  into 
the  nipple  N  of  one  of  the  floor  bowls  B.  Then  at 
each  of  the  other  bowls  B  the  plug  P  is  screwed 
down  till  the  shoulder  S  seats  tightly  and  seals  the 
nipple  N  so  that  no  water  can  back  up  through  it, 
and  the  required  pressure  may  be  safely  applied 
through  the  hose  connection. 

Figure  7  shows  the  connection  of  laundry  tubs  to 
the  laundry  and  kitchen  boilers,  which,  though  really 
remotely  separated  in  different  rooms,  are  here  indi- 
cated close  together  for  convenience.  C  is  the  cold- 
water  supply  from  tank  main,  K  is  an  8o-gallon  boiler 
connected  to  the  kitchen  range  water-back  and  sup- 
plying hot  water  for  the  kitchen  and  scullery  sinks, 
etc.,  and  L  is  the  So- gallon  laundry  boiler  set  about 
40  feet  from  the  laundry  range  and  intended  to 
supply  the  laundry  tubs  only  on  ordinary  occasions. 
To  avoid  unnecessary  radiation  it  is  located  inside 
the  laundry  drying-room  (not  shown  here),  the  tem- 
perature of  which  is  raised  by  a  steam  radiator  con- 
siderably above  that  of  the  laundry  room.  Ordi- 
narily valve  D  is  closed  and  valve  E  is  open,  and  the 
two  boilers  K  and  L  operate  entirely  independently, 
but  if  it  is  desired  to  re-enforce  boiler  K,  valves  D 
and  E  are  reversed  and  boiler  K  must  be  fed  by 
water  that  has  passed  through  boiler  L  and  been 
'  warmed  there.  The  washtrays  are  served  by  com- 
bination double  supply  cocks.  The  supply  pipes  are 
run  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  partition  so  that  they 
are  accessible,  and,  as  the  tubs  stand  open  in  front  of 
the  tiled  wainscoting,  these  cocks  were  made  specially 
long  in  order  to  reach  over  the  tub.  The  tail  pieces 
were  also  made  specially  long  in  order  to  reach 
through  the  partition  and  connect  with  the  supply 
pipes  behind. 

After  the  plumbing  had  been  designed  throughout 
the  house  it  was  thought  desirable  to  provide  a 
special  convenient  toilet-room  for  the  engineman 
and  fireman,  and  as  no  room  was  available,  and  as 
the  soil  and  waste  pipes  could  not  be  depressed  below 
the  floor  level,  a  special  platform  was  built  2  or  3  feet 
above  the  cellar-  floor,  a  bathtub,  washbasin,  and 
water-closet  set  upon  it  and  side  walls  of  light 
matched  boards  built  inclosing  it  and  reaching  to  the 
ceiling.  Windows  and  doors  were  provided  and  the 
cabinet-work  was  nicely  finished  to  present  a  neat 
and  attractive  appearance.  All  work  was  completely 
accessible  and  exposed  and  the  appearance  was  clean 
and  attractive.  Figure  8  is  an  outside  view  showing 
the  pipes,  all  carried  outside,  and  Fig.  9  is  a  sketch 
of  the  interior. 

In  the  basement,  slightly  below  the  ground  level, 
there  is  a  large  suite  of  rpetn^esg^ga^y  comprising 


4-s 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


a  complete  Turkish  b'ath  establishment  equipped 
with  all  the  steam,  bath,  and  attendant's  appurte- 
nances, and  elaborately  appointed  in  every  detail. 
Figure  10  shows  the  plan  and  principal  sections  of 
these  apartments,  which  are  mainly  finished  in  white 


marble  and  nickel-plated  metal-work.  The^lunge 
bath  or  swimming  bath  is  nearly  10x34  feet  in  size, 
and  consists  of  an  iron  tank  lined  with  marble  and 
set  in  a  cement  mortar  bed  on  a  brick  and  iron  floor 
and  surrounded  by  buttressed  brick  walls.  Figure 


FiQ.5 


TromCe/ffng 
(P   J3) Tile     Floor  . .. -Hand  Hole 


.  Pipes  torfttlc  T<Mk 


FiQ.7 

TO  Hitchen  Range  Water  Back 


PLUMBING   IN   MR.    C.   P.    HUNTINGTON*S  RESIDENCE,   NEW  YORK   CITY. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


49 


Jcre, 
A 
$ 


Lead- 


of  Proposed 
Overflow  Connection. 


PLUMBING  IN  MR.   C.    P.    HUNTINGTON'S  RESIDENCE,   NEW  YORK  CITY. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


ii  shows  the  masonry  setting.  The  whole  weight  is 
carried  by  the  foundation  walls  W  W,  and  the  lateral 
pressure,  transmitted  from  the  tank  through  occa- 
sional bearing  bricks  to  the  side  walls,  is  received  by 
the  buttresses  and  arches  A  A,  etc. 

Figure  12  is  a  partial  section  through  the  wall 
showing  the  construction  and  water-proofing  of  the 
sides  and  the  attachment  of  the  plated  brass  stairs 
and  railing.  The  horizontal  bed  having  been  pre- 
pared for  it,  the  iron  tank  was  set  in  cement  mortar 


upon  it,  and  the  outer  walls,  12  inches  thick,  were 
built  around  it,  leaving  a  i-inch  airspace  everywhere 
except  where  contact  bricks  projected  to  touch  the 
iron  plates.  The  tank  was  painted  with  asphalt  and 
then  five  layers  of  asphalt  paper  were  successively 
applied  over  its  entire  inner  surface  and  each  well 
drenched  with  hot  asphalt.  Then  a  lead  lining  was 
secured  to  the  sides  and  bottom  and  turned  over  the 
upper  edges,  and  the  marble  lining  was  set  inside 
this  The  bottom  slabs  were  laid  in  a  i-inch  bed  of 


Section  D-D. 

m 


w///////////////////////^^^^^ 

Section  B-B. 

PLUMBING  IN  MR.   C.    P.   HUNTINGTON'S  RESIDENCE,   NEW  YORK   CITY. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


fc- 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


cement  mortar.  The  vertical  side  slabs  were  then 
placed,  and  the  i-inch  space  between  them  and  the 
sides  of  the  tank  were  filled  with  thin  liquid  cement 
mortar  which  was  poured  in,  in  about  three  or  four 
courses,  each  being  allowed  to  set  before  the  next  one 
was  made,  thus  avoiding  excessive  hydraulic  head, 
which  was  further  provided  for  by  abundant  tempo- 
rary crossbraces. 

Figure  13  is  a  diagram  of  the  iron  tank  and  shows 
the  different  pipe  connections,  comprising  six  ij^- 
inch  inlet  holes  I  I,  etc. ,  for  the  water  from  the  heater 
to  enter  6  inches  from  the  bottom,  two  i-inch  holes 
S  S  for  the  surface  spray  to  enter  4  inches  below  the 
top,  one  s-inch  bottom  outlet  O  for  emptying  and  cir- 
culation, and  three  3-inch  overflow  holes  W  W  W  for 
the  water  to  waste  through,  the  upper  hole  5  feet  2 
inches  above  the  bottom,  and  the  other  6  and  12 
inches  below  it.  The  overflow  was  originally  in- 
tended to  be  controlled  as  shown  in  the  detail,  but  as 
there  was  not  sufficient  space  without  interfering 
with  the  brickwork  the  valves  were  arranged  as 
shown  on  the  diagram.  The  valves  are  arranged  so 
as  to  close  either  of  the  lower  outlets,  but  never  to 
close  the  upper  one,  which  under  all  circumstances 
can  carry  off  the  water  to  a  waste  sink  that  is  trapped 
into  the  sewer.  In  order  to  raise  the  sides  of  the  tank 
above  the  basement  floor,  as  shown  in  Fig.  10,  a  plate 
B  was  riveted  to  the  side  at  the  upper  edge,  and  the 
lead  lining  being  turned  over  on  it,  was  clamped 
there  tightly  by  the  continuous  iron  bar  A,  screwed 
to  the  plate  B. 

A  special  steam  boiler  is  provided  on  each  side  of 
the  bath  to  keep  the  water  heated,  and  acting  virtu- 
ally like  a  common  range  water-back,  receives  at  the 
bottom  cold  water  from  the  bottom  of  the  tank,  and 
warming  it  delivers  it  back  from  its  upper  part  to  a 
slightly  higher  level  in  the  tank,  thus  keeping  up  a 
continual  circulation. 

Figure  14  is  a  cross-sectional  diagram  showing  the 
arrangement  and  connections.  Each  pipe  H  is  one  of 
three  connected  to  the  inlet  holes  I  I,  etc.,  Fig.  13, 
and  the  two  pipes  C  C  receive  the  cold  water  circu- 
lating trom  the  outlet  O  to  the  boilers.  Ordinarily 
valves  D,  ],  G  G  are  closed  and  valves  F  F  open,  the 
circulation  being  continuous  from  boilers  to  tank,  as 
indicated  by  the  arrows,  with  a  small  amount  of  fresh 
water  received  and  overflowing  at  the  surface.  By 
closing  valves  G  G  and  opening  D  the  water  may  be 
emptied  into  the  sewer.  It  was  originally  intended 
to  provide  a  special  filter  (E,  Fig.  i)  for  this  bath, 
which  would  receive  its  supply  from  pipe  E  and  then 
discharge  it  through  a  pump  into  the  boilers  B  B, 
thus  using  the  same  water  over  and  over  indefinitely 
with  repeated  filterings  and  a  small  addition  of  fresh 
water  to  compensate  for  waste,  but  this  arrangement 
has  been  abandoned  for  the  present  and  the  entire 
contents  of  the  tank  are  to  be  renewed  from  time  to 
time  instead. 

Figure  15  shows  a  special  device  provided  for  skim- 
ming or  flushing  the  top  of  the  tank  and  removing 
automatically  and  continuously  any  scum  or  floating 
objects  from  the  surface  of  the  water  where  a  large 
part  of  the  impurities  and  foreign  particles  collect. 
At  the  upper  end  of  the  bath  two  nozzles  S  S  deliver 


a  fine  spray  of  hot,  cold,  or  tempered  water  above 
the  high-water  line,  and  so  directed  as  to  cover  the 
surface  of  the  water  and  wash  all  the  top  part  gently 
towards  the  opposite  end,  where  it  slowly  overflows 
through  the  waste  pipe.  This  is  intended  to  prevent 
the  accumulation  of  scum  and  constantly  removes 
the  dirtiest  portion  of  the  water.  The  nozzles  S  S 
are  supplied  by  a  i-inch  pipe  T,  which  is  carried 
along  the  outside  of  the  tank  wall  just  below  the  cel- 
lar ceiling  and  delivers  from  a  i  J^-inch  mixing 
chamber  U,  which  is  filled  from  the  hot  and  cold 
pipes  of  the  regular  house  system  with  check 
valves  D  D  placed  so  as  to  prevent  the  possibility  of 
water  from  main  C  backing  up  into  main  H,  or  -vice 
versa. 

Figure  16  is  a  partial  vertical  cross-section  through 
the  side  of  the  tank  at  one  of  the  inlets  I,  and  shows 
the  details  of  lining  and  the  method  of  connecting  all 
the  attached  pipes.  Inside  and  outside  flanges  are 
tightly  bolted  upon  the  iron  shell  to  receive  the  screw 
ends  of  the  outside  pipe  and  a  heavy  brass  sleeve, 
over  which  latter  is  slipped  a  tight  fitting  copper 
sleeve  which  is  soldered  firmly  to  the  strainer-plate- 
and  slightly  flanged  at  the  other  end  so  as  to  hold 
securely  in  the  cement  mortar  which  was  poured  be- 
hind the  marble  after  the  pipes  were  set. 

Figure  17  shows  the  connections  of  one  of  the  two- 
duplicate  bath  boilers  B  B,  Fig.  i  and  Fig.  14.  It  is 
placed  close  to  the  tank  wall  W,  and  contains  a  100- 
foot  coil  of  2-inch  brass  pipe  which  is  connected  with 
the  supply  and  return  steam  pipes  R  and  V,  and  re- 
ceiving water  from  the  bottom  of  the  tank  through 
pipe  C  returns  it,  warmer,  through  the  three  distribut- 
ing pipes  H  H  H.  Fresh  cold  water  is  delivered  by 
pipe  K  and  by  branch  L  to  the  companion  boiler  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  tank.  X  is  a  connection  left 
for  the  swimming  bath  special  filter  pump.  D  is  the 
Jewell  filter  (see  Fig.  i),  which  is  set  adjacent  to  the 
boiler  and  which  filters  all  the  house  supply.  It  is 
connected  by  pipes  M  and  G  to  the  principal  cold, 
water  main  A,  Fig.  i,  and  when  in  operation  has 
valves  N  N  open  and  valve  O  closed,  but  by  revers- 
ing these  valves  the  filter  is  cut  out;  valve  O  serving 
as  a  by-pass.  Q  is  the  crank  for  operating  the  rotat- 
ing mechanism  when  the  filter  is  washed,  and  the 
designation  of  the  different  valves  is  as  follows:  i. 
Washout  valve.  2.  Wash  valve.  3.  Inlet  valve.  4. 
Pure  water  valve.  5.  Rewash  valve.  6.  Back-press- 
ure valve.  7.  Filling  cap.  8  Overflow  valve.  9. 
Tank  inlet  valve,  10.  Regulating  valve.  To  wash 
the  filter,  open  valves  i  and  2,  close  all  other  valves 
and  turn  the  crank  on  top  of  the  filter.  To  filter,' 
close  all  valves  except  3  and  4;  valve  5  should  be 
opened  only  about  two  minutes  after  washing  to  allow 
a  little  water  to  filter  in  the  sewer. 

The  operation  of  coagulating  attachment  is  as  fol- 
lows: To  fill  the  tank  close  valves  9  and  10,  open 
valve  8,  remove  cap  7,  and  fill  full  of  crystal  alum, 
allowing  the  displaced  water  to  overflow  at  8,  then 
replace  cap  7.  close  valve  8,  open  valve  9  full,  and 
adjust  valve  10  to  deliver  the  required  amount  of  so- 
lution. The  back-pressure  valve  6  should  be  weighted 
sufficient  to  cause  a  shunt  current  as  indicated  by 
the  arrows. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


63 


SOME  PLUMBING  DETAILS  IN  THE  RESI- 
DENCE OF  JOHN  J.  ASTOR. 

(PUBLISHED  IN  1895.) 

AMONG  the  costly  and  magnificent  residences  which 
are  being  extended  along  the  east  side  of  Fifth  Ave- 
nue opposite  Central  Park,  New  York  City,  to  form 
practically  a  line  of  superb  private  hotels  facing  the 
lovely  park  landscape  and  comprising  the  most 
elegant  modern  city  architecture  and  sumptuous  and 
elaborate  equipment  that  has  perhaps  ever  been  con- 
centrated in  a  group  of  so  many  different  houses, 
there  have  been  several  whose  construction  or  in- 
stallations have  been  carefully  described  in  THE 
ENGINEERING  RECORD,  among  them  the  residence 
of  Cornelius  Vanderbilt,  C.  P.  Huntington,  J.  J. 
Astor,  Mr.  Brokaw,  and  Elbridge  T.  Gerry.  As  Mr. 
Astor's  new  residence  on  the  corner  of  Sixty-fifth 
Street  progressed  towards  completion  a  member  of 
the  RECORD'S  staff  made  the  notes  and  sketches 
from  which  the  following  description  of  some  features 
of  the  plumbing  has  been  prepared. 

The  house  really  consists  of  two  separate  and  dis- 
tinct establishments  adjacent  under  one  roof,  with 
complete  and  independent  equipments  that,  though 
generally  of  corresponding  appearance  and  arrange- 
ment, are  designed  to  be  entirely  separate  in  their 
operation '  and  maintenance.  The  house,  125x150 
feet,  occupies  the  northeast  corner  of  Sixty-fifth 
Street  and  Fifth  Avenue,  and  has  five  floors.  The 
lowest  one  or  basement  is  devoted  to  servants'  rooms, 
storerooms,  kitchen,  etc.,  the  next  to  social  purposes, 
and  the  upper  ones  to  chambers,  etc.  All  of  these 
are  shown,  together  with  the  location  of  bath  and 


toilet  rooms,  closets,  and  washbowls,  in  the  plan 
diagrams  of  Fig  i.  The  plumbing  system  comprises 
the  supply  and  filtration  of  the  water,  its  elevation 
to  roof  tanks  and  distribution  throughout  the  house, 
the  system  of  hot-water  heater  and  supply,  the 
waste  and  drain  pipes,  and  the  local  and  trap-vent 
system,  together  with  the  installation  in  the  stable 
and  carriage  house  adjoining.  The  cast-i.on  pipes 
are  extra  heavy  and  not  coated  with  tar.  At  each 
joint  in  cast-iron  pipe  12  ounces  of  lead  is  used  to 
each  inch  of  diameter  of  the  pipe.  All  wrought-iron 
pipe  used  for  the  drainage  system  is  thoroughly 
coated  with  asphaltum  and  all  its  joints  are  made 
with  red  lead.  All  branch  lead  soil,  waste,  and  vent 
pipes,  including  bends,  have  the  following  weights 
per  lineal  foot:  i%'  inches,  three  pounds  eight  ounces; 
2  inches,  four  pounds;  3  inches,  six  pounds;  4  inches, 
eight  pounds.  All  connections  of  lead  with  iron 


BASEMENT 


FIG.   I. — PLUMBING   DETAILS   IN  THE   RESIDENCE   OF   JOHN   JACOB   ASTOR,   NEW   YORK   CITY. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


pipes  are  made  by  heavy  brass  ferrules  of  the  same 
size  as  the  lead  pipe,  set  in  the  hub  of  the  branch  of 
the  iron  pipe  and  calked  in  with  lead.  All  the  soil, 
waste,  drain,  and  vent  pipes  and  supply  lines  were 
subjected  as  soon  as  set  to  a  hydraulic  test  of  about 
30  pounds  pressure  maximum,  and  after  the  fixtures 
were  all  set  and  the  drainage  system  completed  it  was 
tested  by  the  plumber  with  the  "  smoke  test."  The 
house  drainage  is  discharged  into  the  public  sewers 
through  three  lines  of  6-inch  extra-heavy  cast-iron 
pipe,  run  at  a  uniform  grade  of  one-fourth  inch  per 
foot,  trapped  just  inside  of  the  area  or  vault  walls 
and  having  fresh-air  inlets  5  inches  in  diameter  on 
the  inlet  side  of  the  house  traps  extended  up  flush 
with  the  sidewalk  near  the  street  curb  and  covered 
by  a  cast-brass  grating  leaded  into  the  flagstone. 
The  cellars  are  not  to  be  connected  with  the  house 
drains,  but  are  drained  into  water-tight  brick  cess- 
pools and  catch-basins  I2"xi2"xi8"  at  different  points 
in  each  yard,  cellar,  area,  and  light  court.  These 
cesspools  are  connected  to  3-inch  and  4-inch  pipes 
trapped  into  the  house  drain. 

Each  line  of  water-closets  and  adjacent  fixtures  is 
connected  by  Y's  and  short  lengths  of  iron  pipes  to  a 
5-inch  wrought-iron  soil  pipe,  connecting  with  the 
house  drain  by  a  Y  branch  and  one-eighth  or  one- 
sixteenth  bend  and  extending  in  full  caliber  2  feet  or 
more  above  the  highest  part  of  the  roof  or  coping. 
Near  light  shafts  or  ventilating  opening  soil  pipe  is 
extended  5  feet  above  it.  Three-inch  wrought-iron 
waste  pipes  connect  the  basins,  urinals,  bathtub 
sinks,  and  washtubs  with  the  soil-pipe  lines,  and  are 
extended  to  the  roof,  above  which  they  are  increased 
to  a  diameter  of  4  inches.  The  fixtures  are  con- 
nected with  them  by  Y  branches  and  short  lengths 
of  ij,;,'-inch  and  2-inch  iron  pipes.  All  branch  soil 
and  waste  pipes  have  a  fall  of  not  less  than  one- 
fourth  inch  per  foot.  For  all  water-closets  and 
adjacent  fixtures  there  is  a  3-inch  wrought-iron  vent 
pipe,  connecting  by  short  lengths  of  2-inch  brass  pipe 
with  the  branch  of  each  water-clos'et  trap,  and  by  i  J^- 
inch  brass  pipes  with  the  crowns  of  all  other  traps. 
The  pipe  is  enlarged  to  4  inches  above  the  roof  and 
has  an  inverted  2-inch  Y  branch  in  each  story.  The 
traps  of  all  other  fixtures  are  vented  by  2  inch 
wrought-iron  vent  pipes  connected  by  short  lengths 
of  iron  pipe  i  >£  inches  in  diameter,  with  the  crown  of 
each  trap.  The  main  vent  pipes  extend  above  the 
roof  separately,  and  are  enlarged  to  4  inches  in  the 
same  manner  as  the  soil  pipes,  or  are  connected  with 
the  waste  pipe  above  the  highest  fixtures.  There 
are  n  soil  and  waste  and  n  vent  pipes  extending 
above  the  roof  of  the  building. 

Each  water-closet  bowl  and  waste  pipe  to  urinals 
and  slopsinks  is  vented,  by  a  2  inch  local  vent  pipe 
made  of  i8-ounce  sheet  copper,  with  locked  and 
soldered  seams,  and  branched  into  vertical  lines  con- 
structed in  the  same  manner,  the  area  in  cross-sec- 
tion of  which  at  all  points  is  equal  to  the  total  area  of 
the  several  branches  counted  therewith  The  vertical 
lines  are  connected  on  the  attic  floor  with  round  ven- 
tilating flues,  as  shown  in  Fig.  2,  constructed  of  No. 
24  galvanized  sheet  iron  and  terminating  above  the 
roof  in  a  cowl.  Each  of  these  flues  is  provided  with 


a  Blackman  air  propeller,  operated  by  an  electric 
motor  specified  to  be  of  sufficient  capacity  to  insure 
a  current  of  at  least  10  feet  per  second  a';  the 
inlet  of  each  branch.  All  vent  pipes  are  graded!  GO 
as  to  discharge  water  collected  by  condensation  io  c: 
single  point  at  the  bottom,  where  it  is  connected: 
with  a  drain,  soil,  or  waste  pipe.  The  inside  diam- 
eter of  traps  is  as  follows:  For  water-closets,  4 
inches;  urinals,  2  inches;  slopsinks,  3  inches,  sinks, 
2  inches;  basins,  i  finches;  baths,  iy2  inches;  wash- 
tubs,  2  inches.  Brass  floorplates  are  used  with  the 
water-closet  traps  and  the  joints  made  permanently 
secure  and  gas-tight  by  means  of  bolts  and  red  lead. 
The  enumeration  of  the  total  number  of  fixtures  in 
the  house  shows  their  distribution  as  follows: 


O 

O 
O 

0 

8 

L 

II 

fc 

^ 

"u 

a 

« 

•a 

•d 

J3 

U 

at 

a 

a> 

kH 

o 

3 

M 

fe. 

V 

(H 

O 

Water-closets..  

6 

6 

Slop  hoppers  

Urinals  

Washbasins 

6 

6 

Bathtubs  

Washtubs  

Sinks 

Pantry  sinks  

2 

2 

Pumps  

2 

Refrigerators.  .. 

I 

All  water-closets  are  syphon-jet  closets.  In  the 
boudoir  bathroom  on  the  second  floor  the  bathtub  is 
built  to  occupy  the  whole  octagonal  end  of  the  room, 
and  is  constructed  of  a  solid  block  of  marble  with  a 
gracefully  curved  and  molded  front  and  a  slightly 
projecting  top,  above  which  the  wainscoting  panels 
are  made  continuous  for  several  feet  in  height,  and 
contain  in  the  center  of  the  tub,  at  the  back  side,  a 
large"  beautifully  carved  shell,  in  which  a  cupid  is 
seated  between  two  graceful  dolphins,  from  whose 
mouths  the  hot  and  cold  water  supplies  gush,  being 
controlled  by  wheel-handled  valves  conveniently  set 
in  the  wall  at  the  end  of  the  tub.  In  the  correspond- 
ing bathroom  in  the  other  part  of  the  house  the 
porcelain  tub  has  a  silver  needle-bath  canopy  frame 
with  rubber  curtains  and  a  special  silver-plated  stool 
to  set  in  the  tub  beneath  the  canopy.  The  servants' 
basement  water-closets  are  plain  with  hardwood, 
round-cornered  tanks  with  polished-brass  brackets, 
hardwood  seats,  with  polished-brass  brackets  and 
polished-brass  flush  pipes.  The  mezzanine  toilet- 
room  closets  have  nickel-plated  trimmings.  The 
second-floor  closets  in  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Astor's  rooms, 
guests'  rooms,  and  salon  toilets  have  gold-lined 
closets  and  plated  trimmings.  The  nursery  toilet- 
closet  has  silver-plated  trimmings.  The  maids' 
toilet-closet  has  nickel-plated  trimmings.  The  closets 
in  guests'  and  public  toilets  on  third  floor  have  silver- 
plated  trimmings.  The  closets  in  the  servants'  toilet- 
room  on  the  fourth  floor  have  nickel-plated  trim- 
mings The  bathtubs  in  Mr.  and  Mrs  Astor's,  salon, 
the  guests',  public,  and  the  nursery  toilets  are  porce- 
lain roll-rim  baths,  glazed  inside  and  out,  set  on 
marble  feet,  with  trimmings  plated  to  match  the 
water-closets.  The  six  servants'  bathtubs  are  roll-rim 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


59 


enameled  iron  baths,  with  polished-brass  trimmings 
in  basement  and  nickel-plated  trimmings  on  the 
fourth  floor.  Shower  baths  are  provided  in  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Astor's  rooms  and  in  the  guests'  toilet- room. 

All  washbasins  are  19x15  inches  with  ground  rims. 
The  waste  pipes  are  vertical  to  the  floor  and  the  trap 
vent  branches  are  horizontal  to  the  wall.  The  sup- 
ply pipes  are  provided  with  finished  valves  and  air 
chambers,  and  the  slabs  are  supported  on  plated 
ornamental  brass  legs  and  apron  holders.  The  basins 


WATER  SUPPLY  IN  THE  HOUSE  OF  MR. 

CORNELIUS  VANDERBILT, 

NEW  YORK  CITY. 

(PUBLISHED  IN    1895.) 

PART    I. — FILTERS,     SUCTION    TANK,    PUMPS,    AND    COLD- 
WATER    DISTRIBUTION. 

THE  new  residence  of  Cornelius  Vanderbilt,  Esq. , 
Fifty-seventh  Street  and  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York 
City,  is  one  of  the  largest  and  most  costly  private 


PLUMBING   DETAILS   IN   THE    RESIDENCE   OF   JOHN   JACOB   ASTOR,    NEW   YORK   CITY. 


in  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Astor's  rooms,  guests'  salon,  and 
public  toilets  are  specially  decorated.  In  the  base- 
ment laundry  the  set  of  eight  porcelain  roll-rim  wash- 
trays  is  fitted  up  with  bronzed  iron  standards,  marble 
backs,  and  nickel-plated  fittings.  These  trays  are 
divided  into  two  sets  separately  trapped.  The  four 
37J^x24^-inch  porcelain  roll-rim  sinks  in  the  kitchen 
and  scullery  are  set  on  galvanized- iron  frames  fast- 
ened to  the  wall,  and  have  polished-brass  legs. 
These  sinks  stand  4  inches  clear  of  the  finished  wall, 
and  waste  through  No.  2  polished-brass  Tucker 
grease  traps,  and  have  all  pipes  and  fittings  of 
polished  brass.  These  grease  traps  are  connected  up 
in  the  cellar  below  in  the  manner  shown  in  Fig.  3. 
The  two  25J^xi8^-inch  porcelain  roll-rim  basement 
pantry  sinks  are  fitted  up  in  the  same  manner.  The 
two  German  silver  first-floor  pantry  sinks  have  Ger- 
man silver  drain  boards  and  backs,  3^-inch  brass  hot 
and  cold  water  pipes  placed  in  the  wall  with  air 
chambers  and  swing  pantry  cocks.  They  waste 
through  No.  2  Tucker  grease  traps,  with  brass  waste 
and  vent  connection,  and  all  exposed  brasswork  is 
nickel-plated.  There  is  in  the  butler's  pantry  a  No. 
6  nickel-plated  "Perfection"  combined  filter  and 
cooler  with  supply  and  waste  connections.  There 
are  in  the  cellar  four  i6x24-inch  enameled  iron  sinks 
trapped  and  connected  with  soil  and  vent  pipes,  and 
supplied  with  hot  water  through  j^-inch  brass  pipe. 
These  sinks  are  to  receive  the  drip  from  safe  and 
refrigerator  wastes,  and  are  all  connected  up  essen- 
tially like  the  one  shown  in  Fig.  3. 

The  plumbing  above  described  was  executed  by 
John  Tucker  according  to  plans  and  requirements  of 
the  late  Richard  M.  Hunt,  architect. 


city  residences  in  the  world,  and  the  unlimited  care 
and  expense  devoted  to  its  construction  and  decora- 
tion have  also  governed  its  equipment  with  modern 
mechanical  and  sanitary  apparatus  which  for  power, 
heating,  ventilating,  illuminating,  water  supply,  and 
drainage  is  of  the  most  improved  and  complete 
nature.  It  is  chiefly  constructed  under  special  super- 
vision  and  specifications  intended  to  secure  above  all 
the  utmost  superiority  of  workmanship  and  materials 
and  efficient  operation  regardless  of  cost.  The 


jsarmd 


<$ 

s/ to  jo9^ 


•Emptying  PipeM 
Air  Chamber. 
Waste  Header  J. 


END  VIEW  Off  COLD-WATER  DRUM. 

WATER  SUPPLY  IN  THE  HOUSE  OF  MR.  CORNELIUS 
VANDERBILT,  NEW  YORK  CITY. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


AMERICAN   PLUMBING    PRACTICE. 


plumbing  system  for  the  varied  requirements  of  the 
extensive  establishment  includes  complete  service  of 
hot  and  cold  water,  filtered,  unfiltered,  and  double- 
filtered,  under  street  and  tank  pressure,  and  the 
drainage,  drip,  and  waste  for  the  domestic  establish- 
ment, besides  the  service  for  numerous  general  and 
private  bath  and  toilet  rooms  and  the  servants'  quar- 
ters. Water  pipes  are  of  galvanized  iron  or  tinned 
brass,  and  waste  and  drainage  pipes  are  of  screwed 
galvanized  iron  up  to  i>£  inches,  and  of  extra  heavy 
cast  iron  for  larger  sizes.  No  lead  pipes  are  used, 
and  all  are  tested  to  a  maximum  water  pressure  of 
from  160  to  210  pounds.  Gate  valves  are  used 
throughout  on  all  pipes  above  i%  inches,  and  all  hot- 
water  lines  have  return  circulation.  Sets  of  com- 
plete standard  apparatus  are  established  in  the 
kitchen  and  laundry,  where  steam  is  supplied  from 
the  boilers  for  the  powtr  and  heating  service  and 
cooking  and  scullery  uses. 

There  are  several  miles  of  water  and  drain  and 
back-air  pipes  in  the  house,  and  all  the  main  hot  and 
cold  water  lines  are  interchangeable  from  tank  to 
street  pressure,  are  independent  of  each  other  and 
other  parts  of  the  system,  and  have  separate 
branches  with  valves  commanding  each  set  of  fix- 
tures. The  main  or  riser  lines  themselves  are  all 
commanded  by  sets  of  valves  concentrated  at  one 
point  in  the  cellar  and  controlled  by  the  engineer, 
who  has  charge  of  a  complicated  labyrinth  of  pipes. 
This  installation  is  more  extensive  and  elaborate 
than  the  installations  in  many  large  hotels  and  public 
buildings,  and  presents  many  special  and  interesting 
features  of  construction,  arrangement,  and  operation. 
The  features  and  details  shown  have  been  sketched 
by  a  member  of  our  staff,  who  received  a  general 
explanation  of  the  work  from  Mr.  George  B.  Post,  of 
New  York,  the  architect  of  the  building,  under  whose 
requirements  and  superintendence  the  work  was 
executed  by  James  Muir  &  Co.  The  foreman  in 
charge  of  the  work  for  the  Messrs.  Muir  explained 
the  mechanical  details  and  operation. 

The  water  supply  is  taken  from  the  city  mains  on 
both  Fifty-seventh  and  Fifty-eighth  Streets  through 
two  2-inch  connections,  which  deliver  it  through  two 
Worthington  meters  in  the  cellar  to  the  suction  tank. 
From  this  point  it  is  pumped  to  the  attic  tank,  and 
to  the  steam  boilers  and  the  No.  33  Jewell's  filter, 
Fig.  i,  which  delivers  it  eventually  to  the  distribu- 
tion drum,  where  all  the  house  supplies  are  controlled. 
The  filter  is  designed  to  purify  50,000  gallons  of 
water  per  diem  without  appreciable  diminution  of 
pressure  head,  valves  i  3,  and  6  being  open  and  the 
others  closed  normally  It  is  intended  to  wash  the 
filter  daily,  for  which  operation  valves  i  and  3  are 
closed  and  2  and  4  are  open  for  a  few  seconds,  when 
valve  4  is  closed  and  5  open,  valve  2  being  set  so  as 
to  admit  only  enough  water  to  liquefy  the  bed 
sufficiently  to  promote  the  revolution  of  the  agitator. 
The  water  is  forced  upward  through  the  screens  and 
perforated  diaphragms  that  confine  the  filtering 
materials  until  it  overflows  into  the  sewer  through 
valve  5.  This  operation  is  to  cause  the  separation 
•of  the  grains  of  quartz,  and  by  increasing  the  sizes 
t»f  the  interstices  between  them  to  detach  the  accu- 


mulated particles  of  impurities  and  carry  them  up- 
wards and  outwards  with  the  flowing  water,  while 
the  heavier  quartz,  being  continuously  agitated,  re- 
mains in  semi-suspension  and  scours  itself  by  the 
rubbing  of  its  particles  together.  The  revolution  of 
the  agitator  is  intended  to  break  up  any  films  or 
lumps  and  to  thoroughly  wash  the  sides  of  the  filter. 
About  five  minutes  is  required  for  the  washing, 
which  is  continued  until  water  runs  clear  from  the 
try  cock  D.  When  the  filter  is  clean  it  is  quickly 
rewashed  to  remove  the  unfiltered  water  left  therein. 
To  do  this  valves  2  and  5  are  closed  and  i  and  4  are 
opened  until  the  discharge  from  try-cock  E  is  clear 
and  bright.  The  machine  is  then  set  to  filtering  by 
simply  closing  valve  4  and  opening  valve  3. 

.70  Sewer 


(i) 


JJ8- 


EFEFEF 


Distribution  Risers 

PLAN  OF  COLD-WATER  DRUM, 

In  filtering,  the  water  from  the  street  mains  is  re- 
ceived on  top  of  the  quartz  filtering  bed,  and  per- 
colates downward  through  its  rugged  interstices  and 
the  screens  and  pipes  at  the  bottom.  The  filter  re- 
quires from  10  to  15  minutes'  attention  daily,  and  can 
be  thoroughly  washed  with  less  than  I  per  cent,  of 
the  amount  of  water  filtered  When  a  coagulant  is 
used  its  cost  varies  from  i  cent  to  10  cents  per  10,000 
gallons  of  water,  according  to  its  quality.  The  over- 
flow and  discharge  pipes  are  5  inches  in  diameter,  the 
other  pipes  shown  are  all  2  inches  except  the  J^-inch 
ones  connecting  the  alum  tank  which  is  controlled 
by  valves  F  F.  The  shaft  I  extends  vertically  down- 
ward into  the  filter  and  carries,  a  little  below  the 
overflow  outlet,  a  crosspiece  from  which  a  set  of 
beveled  rakes  parallel  to  it  extend  about  2  feet  down 
into  the  filter  bed,  and  thoroughly  cut  it  up  and 
loosen  it  when  revolved  by  the  hand  crank  J.  Tight 
and  loose  pulleys  are  also  provided  to  drive  it  by  a 
belt  if  it  is  wished  to  operate  it  by  power.  Just  above 
the  dished  bottom  piece  an  internal  horizontal  dia- 
phragm-plate makes  a  false  bottom,  beneath  which 
the  water  is  collected  as  filtered,  and  upon  which  the 
filtering  bed  (about  2j^  feet  of  two  sizes  of  White's 
machine-crushed  quartz,  claimed  to  be  99  per  cent, 
pure  silicon)  is  supported.  The  diaphragm  is  per- 
forated by  numerous  round  holes,  which  are  capped 
above  with  inverted  conical  aluminum  bronze  strain- 
ers that  distribute  the  washing  water  in  small  jets 


Bfl 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


in  every  direction,  and  prevent  the  passage  of  the 
quartz  through  the  diaphragm. 

Figure  2  shows  the  4-foot  suction  tank,  about  5  feet 
high,  which  automatically  receives  water  under  street 
pressure  direct  from  the  meters  and  filter  through  a 
2-inch  pipe  and  ball  cock,  although  by  opening  valve 
D  the  tank  may  be  independently  filled  by  hand. 
The  overflow  and  waste  pipes  discharge  freely  into 
an  adjacent  trapped  sink,  and  the  3-inch  pump  suc- 
tion pipe  is  connected  to  a  Crocker- Wheeler  Electric 
Company's  one  horse-power  pump,  which  is  driven 
by  an  attached  motor  with  a  speed  of  i  ,050  revolu- 
tions per  minute,  and  to  a  two  horse-power  Rider 
gas  engine  pump,  the  delivery  of  which  is  connected 
up  with  a  section  of  rubber  hose  inserted  just  beyond 
the  air  chamber  to  diminish  the  transmission  of  noise, 
vibrations,  etc.,  through  the  house  by  means  of  the 
riser  pipes. 

Figures  3,  4,  5,  and  6  show  the  arrangement  and 
construction  of  the  cold-water  distribution  drums  in 


and  prevent  water  hammer  in  the  pipes.  The 
amount  of  air  in  the  drums  is  indicated  by  the  gauge 
glasses,  and  if  its  volume  becomes  diminished  it  can 
be  increased  by  shutting  off  the  riser  lines,  emptying 
the  drums  and  waste  pipes,  admitting  air,  and  refill- 
ing them  with  water.  All  the  valves  are  consecu- 
tively numbered  and  marked  by  attached  brass  labels, 
and  the  service  thus  commanded  is  recorded  on  a 
printed  chart  or  key  numbered  to  correspond  and 
framed  and  hung  up  conveniently  near.  The  pipes 
are  symmetrically  arranged  in  a  regular  and  mechan- 
ical manner,  and  are  so  connected  up  with  unions 
that  any  one  can  be  taken  off  for  alteration  or  re- 
pairs without  interfering  with  the  others. 

PART  II. — HOT-WATER  SYSTEM,  BOILERS,  SUPPLY  LINES, 
RETURN  CIRCULATION,  STEAM  CONNECTIONS,  AND 
AUTOMATIC  REGULATING  VALVE. 

To  SECURE  an  estimated  maximum  consumption  of 
500  gallons  of  hot  water  an  hour  for  all  culinary. 


Fi6.6 


Wall  Strap- T. 


"-  Supply  from  SS*  Si 
Supply  from  S7&  Sf. 


THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD 


METHODS  OF  SUPPORTING  WATER  PIPES  ON  FIREPROOF  CEILINGS  AND  WALLS. 

WATER   SUPPLY   IN   THI   HOUSE   OF   MR.    CORNELIUS   VANDERBILT,    NEW    YORK   CITY. 


the  cellar.  Figure  3  is  a  front  perspective.  Fig.  4  is 
an  end  elevation  from  X  X,  Fig.  5  is  a  plan  from  Y 
Y,  and  Fig.  6  is  an  elevation  from  Z  Z  of  the  pipes  on 
the  wall.  The  drums  are  of  #-inch  galvanized  steel 
with  flanged  ends  and  tested  to  200  pounds  per  square 
inch.  They  are  supported  solidly  on  heavy  cast-iron 
chairs  and  are  about  2i"x8'  long,  with  a  6xi-inch 
longitudinal  bar  riveted  on  inside  to  provide  rein- 
forcement for  the  screwed  pipe  connections.  The 
upper  drum  is  supplied  with  filtered  tank  water  and 
the  lower  one  with  filtered  street-pressure  water, 
each  through  2-inch  pipe,  while  the  riser  lines  to  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  house  above  and  below  the  second 
floor  are  respectively  supplied  from  the  branches  E 
E,  etc.,  and  F  F,  etc.,  most  of  them  i^  inches  in 
diameter.  Each  line  E  or  F  has  a  ^-inch  emptying 
pipe  H  connecting  it  with  a  i^-inch  waste  pipe  ], 
through  which  it  may  be  emptied  into  the  sewer  and 
the  line  left  free  for  disconnection  at  any  point  by 
closing  the  main  valve  G  and  opening  the  small  one  I. 
The  upper  portions  of  the  drums  are  designed  to 
be  filled  with  air,  forming  a  cushion  to  absorb  shocks 


toilet,  and  domestic  purposes  two  boilers  of  T5ff-inch 
galvanized  steel  with  flanged  heads  were  provided. 
They  are  about  36  inches  in  diameter  by  6  feet  long 
and  are  compactly  and  symmetrically  arranged  in  a 
narrow  space  between  two  massive  foundation  piers 
in  the  cellar  adjacent  to  the  cold-water  drums  and  near 
the  post  of  the  engineer,  who  controls  their  operation. 

Figure  7  is  a  view,  nearly  in  elevation,  from  a  pho- 
tograph, of  the  front  end  of  the  boilers.  Figure  9  is 
a  similar  view  of  the  rear  ends  of  the  boilers  after 
the  hot-water  pipes  and  valves  were  in  place,  but  be- 
fore the  steam  connections  had  been  made. 

Figure  8  is  a  general  isometric  drawing  of  the 
boilers  and  piping  as  seen  from  the  front. 

Figure  10  is  an  isometric  diagram  of  the  rear  after 
the  connection  of  the  steam  pipes. 

Figure  1 1  is  a  plan  from  above  the  boilers. 

Figure  12  is  a  vertical  section  and  elevation  at  Z  Z, 
Fig.  n. 

Figure  13  is  a  diagram  of  the  connections  for  drip, 
waste,  and  return  circulation  to  the  underside  of  one 
boiler. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


FiG,7 


FaONT  OF  HOT-WATER  DOUBLE-PRESSURE  BOILERS. 


Figure  14  shows  the  steam  connections  only,  omit- 
ting the  water  pipes  shown  in  the  preceding  figures, 
and  Fig.  15  shows  the  construction  and  details  of  the 
automatic  steam  regulating  valve  to  control  the 
amount  of  steam  required  to  maintain  the  water  at  a 
given  temperature  under  varying  demands.  Tank 
and  street  pressure  cold  water  is  delivered  in  2-inch 
pipes  so  connected  as  to  deliver  either  kind  to  either 
boiler  without  danger  of  backing  into  the  other  one. 
Water  enters  the  bottoms  of  the  boilers,  and  being 
heated  by  the  interior  steam  coil  is  delivered  from 
the  tops  through  valved  5 -inch  pipes  which  connect 


with  a  5 -inch  horizontal  header  which  has  a  valve  in 
the  center  between  the  boilers  to  separate  them  when 
they  are  operated  as  is  usual  under  different  press- 
ures. The  header  distributes  the  hot  water  to  i-inch 
risers  E  E,  etc.,  that  supply  the  different  groups  of 
fixtures  throughout  the  house,  and  are  each  connected 
at  their  highest  points  with  ^-inch  return-circulation 
pipes  that  enter  corresponding  2^-inch  headers  J  at 
the  rear  of  the  boilers.  From  these  headers  2-inch 
pipes  K  K  connect  with  the  cold-water  inlet  so  that 
the  water  that  has  been  cooled  in  circuit  enters  with 
the  fresh  supply  and  is  continually  reheated.  All  the 


Cold  Supply  from  Tank. 

Hot  Hater  Risers- 


TMC  ENGINEERING  RECORD 

HOT-WATER  DELIVERY  AND  CONTROL  OF  RISER  LINES  FROM  HOT-WATER  BOILERS. 
WATER    SUPPLY    IN   THE    HOUSE    OF    MR.    CORNELIUS   VANDERBILT,    NEW    YORK    CITY. 


•60 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


risers  are  valved  at  the  headers,  and  just  above  are 
tapped  or  bled  by  emptying  pipes  F  F,  etc.,  also 
valved,  and  wasted  into  an  open  bowl  H,  contents  of 
which  are  trapped  into  a  sewer  pipe.  This  system 
is  essentially  the  same  as  that  for  the  cold-water 
drums,  Figs.  3,  4,  and  5,  and  similarly  provides  for 
the  control  or  emptying  of  any  line  by  the  reversing 
of  its  two  valves.  As  with  the  cold-water  distribu- 
tion drums  and  in  all  other  places  each  valve  is 
tagged  and  its  number  and  corresponding  service  is 
printed  on  a  key  hung  up  near  by.  Some  idea  of  the 
arrangement  and  extent  of  the  system  is  given  by  the 
following  copy  of  the  hot- water  board: 

TANK   PRESSURE,  HOT   WATER. 

1  and  34,  boys'  bath,    Fifth  Avenue  bath,   third 
floor,  and  servants'  bath   Fifty-eight  Street,  fourth 
floor. 

2  and  35,  Mrs.  Vanderbilt's  bath.     3  and  36,  Miss 
Vanderbilt's  bath   and   Fifty-seventh    Street    bath, 
third  floor. 

4  and  32,  west  bathrooms,   second,   third,   fourth, 
and  fifth  floors. 

5  and  33,  slopsinks,  second,  third,  fourth,  and  fifth 
floors. 

6  and  31,  Miss  Vanderbilt's  bath. 

STREET  PRESSURE,  HOT  WATER. 

7  and  '30,  Miss  Vanderbilt's  bath. 

8  and  19,  boys'  bath  and  Fifth  Avenue  bath,  third 
floor. 

9  and  20,  Mrs.  Vanderbilt's  bath. 

10  and  21,  Miss  Vanderbilt's  bath,  Fifty-seventh 
Street,  third  floor  bath,  housekeepers'  bath  in  base- 
ment, and  library  toilet-room. 

11  and  22.  gentlemen's  toilet,  men's  cellar  bath- 
room, and  cellar  sink. 

12  and  23,  ladies'  toilet  and  musicians'  toilet-room. 

13  and  24,  smoking-room  toilet,  laundry  toilet,  and 
cellar  sink. 

14  and  25,  laundry  trays. 

15  and  26,  west  bathrooms,  second  and  third  floors, 
and  basement  slopsink. 

1 6  and    27,    kitchen    sink,    pastry- room,    butler's 
pantry,  and  two  cellar  sinks,  southwest. 


Circulation  Header- 


Hot  Water  Risers 


Emptying  Pipes 


•Hot  Hater  Delivery 


Steam  Return 
Cast  Iron  Chair- -\  - 


Cast  Iron  Chair 
Cellarfloor 


ELEVATION  OF  HOT-WATER  BOILER  AT  Z  Z,  FIQ.  H. 

17  and  28,  second  and  third  floor  slopsinks. 

18  and  29,  office  toilet-room,  scullery  sink,  and  base- 
ment sinks  in  waiter's  and  brush  rooms. 

37,  on  circulation  distributing  pipe  of  tank  pressure 
boiler. 

38,  on  circulation  distributing  pipe  of  street  press- 
ure boiler. 

39,  intermediate  valve  on  distributing  pipe  con- 
necting  tank  and  street  pressure  boilers. 

40,  on  tank  boiler  distribution  pipe. 

41,  on  street  boiler  distribution  pipe. 

42,  intermediate  valve  on  distributing  pipe  con- 
necting street  and  tank  boilers. 

43,  tank  supply  to  tank  pressure  boiler. 

44,  tank  supply  to  street  pressure  boiler. 

45,  street  supply  to  tank  pressure  boiler. 

46,  street  supply  to  street  pressure  boiler. 

47,  supply  to  boilers  from  Fifty-seventh  Street. 

48,  supply  to  boilers  from  Fiftv-eighth  Street. 

49,  to  empty  tank  pressure  boiler. 


REAR  OF   HOT-WATER  DOUBLK-PRKSST7RE  BOILERS. 

WATER   SUPPLY   IN   THE   HOUSE   OF   MR     CORNELIUS   VANDERBILT,    NEW   YORK   CITY. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 

'SteamSuppfy. 

••dir Chamber. 


THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD 


To  Sewer 

EETURN-CIBCULATION  CONNECTIONS  TO  HOT-WATER  BOILERS. 


THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD 

Steam  Return 


Emptying 


Emptying 
~-Pipes 


Hot  Water  Risers  , 

Hot  Water  Delivery 


'-Distribution  Header- 


Hot  Water  Risers 
^•Hot  tfater  Delivery 


FLAN  OF  DOUBLE-PRESSURE  HOT-WATER  BOILERS. 


^sJVaste  Pipe      so 

•*•  *     ii(*f . 

Supply  from  S7&St.-ft\\\ 
»•         n    58$  ;;-J«  vil 


"fy    THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD 
r: 

AUTOMATIC  STEAM  CONTROL  FOR  HOT-WATER  BOILERS. 
WATER    SUPPLY    IN   THE   HOUSE   OF    MR.    CORNELIUS   VANDERBILT,    NEW    YORK    CITY. 


*r~*nj4s 


^8^;; 

PIPES  BENEATH  HOT-WATER  BOILERS. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING    PRACTICE, 


50,  to  empty  street  pressure  boiler. 
51  and  5 2,  supply  to  steam  regulator  on  tank  boiler. 
53  and  54,  supply  to   steam  regulator   on    street 
boiler. 

55  to  90  inclusive  are  emptying  valves. 

Although  it  is  intended  to  use  one  boiler  exclusively 
under  street  pressure  for  the  lower-floor  service,  and 
the  other  one  under  tank  pressure  for  the  upper-floor 
service,  they  are  arranged  so  as  to  be  independent 
and  interchangeable  and  either  or  both  can  be 
operated  from  either  street  or  tank  supply.  Ordi- 
narily, however,  the  left-hand  boiler,  Fig.  10,  is  used 
for  street  and  the  right-hand  one  is  used  for  tank 
pressure,  and  valves  44,  45,  42,  and  39,  and  all  emp- 
tying and  waste  valves  are  closed  and  all  the 
other  water  valves  are  open.  Closing  valves  46  and 
43  and  opening  45  and  44  would  admit  street  press- 
ure to  the  tank  boiler  and  tank  pressure  to  the  street 
boiler,  and  opening  valves  39  and  42  would  equalize 
the  pressure  between  them  and  connect  each  boiler 
with  all  the  hot-water  lines,  while  closing  38,  41,  44, 
and  46  would  cut  out  the  street  pressure  boiler  and 
allow  it  to  be  emptied  for  cleaning  and  repairs.  By 
opening  valves  39  and  42  in  the  delivery  and  return 
headers  all  the  pipe  lines  would  be  served  by  the 
tank  pressure  boiler.  Similarly,  by  closing  valves  37, 
40,  43,  and  45  the  tank  pressure  boiler  would  be  cut  t 
out. 

The  steam  pipes  supply  steam  at  about  40  pounds 
pressure  to  a  6o-foot  coil  of  2 -inch  brass  pipe  in  each 
boiler,  which  is  estimated  to  be  capable  of  heating 
300  gallons  of  water  per  hour  up  to  200  degrees. 
The  Kieley  traps,  drip,  and  return,  etc.  are  arranged 
in  the  usual  manner  and  each  boiler  is  independently 
supplied  through  valves  T  T,  Fig.  14.  Between 
valve  T  and  the  coil  each  boiler  has  a  throttle  valve 
U  and  two  by-pass  valves  V  V,  so  as  to  permit  the 


AUTOMATIC  SPECIAL  STEAM  VALVE. 


steam  supply  to  be  automatically  proportioned  to  the 
amount  of  cold  water  heated.  To  effect  this  U  is 
closed  and  V  V  are  opened,  admitting  steam  through 
regulating  valve  W,  but  by  reversing  valves  V  V  and 
U  the  automatic  arrangement  is  cut  out  and  a  full 
Bead  of  steam  under  boiler  pressure  is  constantly 
freely  admitted. 

The  pipe  F  receives  the  hottest  water  from  the  top 
ot  the  boiler  and  returns  it  in  a  continuous  stream 
through  pipe  N  to  the  bottom  of  the  boiler,  thus 
always  maintaining  itself  at  the  maximum  tempera- 
ture of  the  water  in  the  boiler.  The  variations  in 


Section 

WATER  SUPPLY  IN  THE  RESIDENCE  OF   MR     CORNELIUS  VANDERBILT,   NEW  YORK   CITY. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


03 


Street  Circulate 
9        Street  Ho 
Tank  Circulation 

Hot 
Cold 
Street  n 


Tank  Cold 
•'»  Hot  — 
Street  Cold— 
r>  Hot — • 
"'  Cir. 


Fifi.18 


WATER   SUPPLY  IN  THE   HOUSE   OF  MR     CORNELIUS  VANDERBILT,    NEW  YORK   CITY. 


N 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


this  temperature  produce  small  but  perceptible 
changes  in  the  length  of  the  upper  horizontal  portion 
of  the  pipe  F  (about  4  feet  long),  and  as  one  end  K 
is  relatively  fixed  the  other  end  that  is  supported  by 
a  loose  head  M  sliding  on  guide  rods  G  G  vibrates 
longitudinally  and  actuates  the  valve  stem  I.  By 
means  of  a  multiplying  device  this  stem  opens  and 
closes  the  valve  W.  Screwing  up  the  adjustment 
nuts  N  N  one  revolution  each  shortens  the  distance 
to  valve  W  by  an  amount  equal  to  the  contraction  of 
the  pipe  F  between  N  and  W  produced  by  a  fall  of 
temperature  of  5°  Fahr.  and  causes  a  slight  motion 
in  the  elbow  joints  L  L,  which  permits  the  pipe  F  to 
move  slightly  in  a  longitudinal  direction  towards 
Valve  W.  It  may  thus  be  made  to  operate  valve  W 
at  any  required  degree  of  temperature.  The  instru- 
ment is  set  to  open  and  close  the  valve  at  170"  and 
175°  Fahr.  respectively. 

Figure  15  shows  the  details  and  operation  of  valve 
W.  Its  stem  I  is  fastened  to  pipe  F  or  head  M,  Fig. 
14,  and  moves  with  it  so  that  its  expansion  by  increas- 
ing temperature  pushes  corrugated  diaphragm  D  to 
the  right  and  makes  shoulder  B  engage  the  short  arm 
C  of  the  lever  L,  whose  long  arm  F  throws  the  valve 
E  into  its  closed  position  E'.  This  regulator  was  in- 
vented and  manufactured  by  Timothy  Kieley,  New 
York  City. 

PART  III. — REFILTERING  SYSTEM  IN  BUTLER'S  PANTRY, 
TYPICAL  ARRANGEMENTS  IN  SLOPSINK  CLOSETS  AND 
BATHROOMS. 

THE  cold-water  supply  for  the  butler's  pantry  is 
received  under  street  pressure  from  the  cellar  filter, 
and  is  refiltered  through  Pasteur  niters  conveniently 
placed  in  a  cupboard  under  a  dresser  in  the  balcony 
or  gallery  of  the  butler's  pantry.  Figure  16  shows 
the  arrangement  of  the  two  separate  and  independent 
niters,  each  about  15x18  inches  high,  and  having  a 
rated  capacity  of  50  gallons  per  hour.  They  are  sup- 
plied through  a  ^-inch  pipe,  and  deliver  through  a 
ball  cock  into  a  rectangular  porcelain-lined  tank 
about  36x18  inches  and  24  inches  high,  with  a  i%- 
inch  overflow  pipe  emptying  into  a  trapped  sink  that 
also  receives  the  discharge  from  the  drip  pipe  of  the 
lead  safe.  The  dotted  lines  in  the  illustration  indi- 
cate the  position  of  the  inclosing  cabinet-work  which 
forms  below,  a  table  and  cupboard  with  sliding  doors 
and  top,  and  is  a  glass  case  above,  thus  inclosing  and 
protecting  the  filters  and  tank,  while  leaving  them 
perfectly  accessible. 

There  are  numerous  washbowls,  sinks,  toilet,  bath, 
and  dressing  rooms  throughout  the  house  that  are 
very  completely  and  carefully  fitted  up.  The  fixtures 
designed  for  the  use  of  the  family  and  guests  are  re- 
markably elegant  and  costly.  Those  in  the  boudoir 
bathrooms  are  luxurious,  with  specially  designed  rich 
metal-work  and  large  carved  bathtubs  hollowed  out 
of  solid  blocks  of  marble,  but  there  are  no  remark- 
able features  in  the  mechanical  details  or  in  the 
arrangement  and  system  of  piping  and  connections. 

The  general  methods  of  arrangement  and  connec- 
tion and  exposed  valves  and  piping  are  shown  in  Figs. 
17  and  18,  which  are  typical  of  the  distribution  of 
street  and  tank  pressure,  hot  and  cold  water,  position 


of  fixtures,  etc.  Figure  17  shows  the  interior  of  the 
maid's  closet  and  slopsink  on  the  third  floor.  Valves 
V  V  V  V  are  introduced  instead  of  a  cut-off  to  utilize 
street  or  tank  pressure  at  will.  Offsets  are  made  by 
one-quarter  and  one-eighth  L  fittings.  All  metal- 
work  is  heavily  plated.  The  sink  is  porcelain,  and 
the  floors  and  walls  are  covered  with  marble  or  white 
ceramic  tiles. 

Figure  18  shows  the  piping  in  the  third-story 
family  bathroom,  the  work  being  similar  to  that 
shown  in  Fig.  17. 

t'C/eat  (f. 


WaterPipes 


Cross  Section  of  Box  only. 

Copper  Chair  E) 


1  Waste  PipeP.  Thimble  T 

Longitudinal  Sect/on  of  Box. 

Finishect  'Duct  and  Pipes 

/ ^j~~^~~'^7~'          ^.  _  ^  ,. 


"Fm.20 


•Copper  Lining, 

Transverse  Section  of  Duct 

Coppe  r  Cover 


A 

\before  locking. 


Detail  at  A 
after  locking. 


Figures  rq  and  20  show  the  methods  adopted  for 
the  protection  of  walls  and  ceilings  from  any  possible 
leakage  in  the  pipe  lines,  which,  in  the  remote  con- 
tingency of  its  occurrence,  would  be  caught  in  the 
sealed  boxes  and  discharged  by  their  waste  pipes 
through  numbered  flap  valves  into  cellar  sinks,  where 
the  drip  would  he  immediately  evident,  and  would 
be  readily  identified  so  as  to  indicate  the  line  requir- 
ing repairs. 

All  horizontal  water  pipes  are  run  beneath  the 
floors  and  over  the  ceilings  in  hermetically  sealed 
boxes  as  shown  in  Fig.  ig,  about  6  inches  deep  and 
18  inches  wide,  made  of  i-inch  boards.  From  the 
boards  simple  troughs  were  first  constructed  as  shown 
at  B,  with  beveled  upper  edges.  Over  these  the  12- 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


ounce  copper  lining  was  folded  and  nailed.  The 
joints  at  the  ends  of  each  section  were  locked  and 
soldered,  and  the  ends  soldered  tightly  to  make  a 
water-tight  receptacle.  Then  at  intervals  transverse 
copper  ridges  or  chairs  E  E,  etc.  were  soldered  to 
the  bottom  so  as  to  form  supports,  elevating  the 
pipes  about  3  inches  from  the  bottom.  Where  the 
pipes  enter  the  box,  vertical  sleeves  or  thimbles  T 
pierce  the  bottom  of  the  box  (to  which  they  are 
soldered  tightly),  and  extended  up  to  the  tops  of  the 
chairs  so  as  to  allow  the  pipes  to  enter  freely  and  ex- 
pand and  contract  without  any  danger  of  leakage, 
even  if  the  box  should  become  filled  with  water 
nearly  3  inches  deep.  Each  box,  however,  is  pro- 
vided with  a  waste  pipe  P,  through  which  any  leak- 
age would  be  carred  directly  to  a  slopsink  in  the 
cellar  without  any  opportunity  to  collect  in  the  boxes. 
After  the  pipes  are  laid  in  them  the  boxes  have  cleats 
C  C  nailed  along  each  side,  and  the  beveled  cover 
piece,  also  lined  on  the  bottom  and  ridges  with  12- 
ounce  copper  nailed  on,  is  supported  on  the  cleats, 
and  the  V-shaped  space  between  the  beveled  edges 
is  filled  with  a  slightly  rounded  wiped  joint  that  com- 
pletes the  sealing  of  that  portion  of  the  pipes.  The 
vertical  sections  of  them  are  run  through  somewhat 
different  vertical  ducts,  as  shown  in  Fig.  20.  These 
ducts,  having  to  carry  3-inch  pump  and  tank  risers, 
also  are  larger  than  the  horizontal  ones,  and  are 
about  30  inches  wide  and  6  or  7  inches  deep.  They 
consist  of  a  wooden  trough  nailed  vertically  to  the 
wall  and  lined  with  i2-ounce  sheet  copper,  bent  at 
the  edges  as  shown  in  the  transverse  detail,  and  pro- 
vided with  corresponding  cover  sheets.  The  pipes 
are  run  in  the  open  box  and  secured  by  ordinary 
jointed  saddle  hangers  H  H,  etc.,  which  were  screwed 


into  the  wood  and  white-leaded  and  tightly  drawn 
up  to  the  copper  lining.  Then  the  copper  pieces,  in 
convenient  sections,  slipped  into  place,  their  bends 
engaging  and  locking  with  those  of  the  lining  at  A 
and  B,  and  turned  up  against  the  outside  of  the  duct 
and  finally  flattened  tightly  there,  but  not  soldered. 
The  different  sections  of  the  cover  sheets  were 
soldered  together,  and  the  bottoms  of  the  ducts 
sealed  and  provided  with  waste  pipes  to  the  drip 
sink.  The  pipes  are  thus  left  practically  inaccessible 
and  most  carefully  provided  against  possibility  of 
doing  damage  by  leaking. 


A  SPECIAL  ROOF  TANK. 

(PUBLISHED  IN  1889.) 

IN  a  recent  search  for  plumbing  details,  a  member 
of  our  staff  sketched  the  construction  shown  in  Figs, 
i  and  2  of  a  roof  tank  in  a  new  residence  on  West 
End  Avenue,  New  York. 

Figure  i  is  a  general  perspective.  A  is  a  i-inchpipe 
affording  an  independent  supply  to  a  slopsink  on 
third  floor.  B  and  C  are  ^-inch  relief  pipes  from  the 
hot-water  supply  and  heating  systems.  D  is  the 
strainer-plate  covering  safe  waste  pipe. 

Figure  2  shows  the  tank  broken  at  Z  Z,  Fig.  i,  and 
shows  pipes  and  details  not  visible  in  Fig.  i.  A  is 
the  safe  with  lead  cover  B.  C  is  a  relief  pipe.  D  is 
a  i^-inch  pipe  supplying  tank  water  to  the  house;  it 
is  connected  with  the  city  pressure,  which,  when 
sufficient,  forces  street  water  into  the  tank  through 
branch  E  and  ball  cock  G.  F  is  a  check  valve  that 
closes  towards  the  right  and  thus  prevents  street 
water  from  overflowing  the  tank  when  ball  cock  G  is 
closed.  As  the  street  water  is  likely  to  rise  above 


FIG 


A  SPECIAL  ROOF  TANK. 


M 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


the  bottom  of  the  tank  sooner  and  oftener  than  it 
would  rise  to  the  top,  the  ball  cock  G  is  set  very  low 
and  its  floor  H  works  on  a  long  arm  so  as  to  operate 
whenever  possible.  I  is  the  i  J^-inch  force  pipe  from 
the  pump.  J  is  the  overflow  and  K  the  emptying 
pipe,  both  discharging  through  the  2-inch  pipe  L  to  the 
roof  gutter.  The  tank  is  reinforced  by  twelve  ^3 -inch 
tie-rods  (see  Fig.  i)  M;  the  six  inside  rods  are  jacketed 
by  i-inch  copper  pipes  N,  that  are  soldered  to  the 
copper  tank  lining  O.  P  P,  etc.,  are2xi-inch  tongues 
set  with  white  lead  in  the  grooves  of  the  tank  boards 
at  all  joints. 

The  plumbing  in  this  house  was  done  by  Byrne  & 
Tucker,  of  New  York,  who  were  at  that  time  com- 
pleting the  work  in  an  apartment-house  on  Eighty- 
fourth  Street,  where  the  hot-water  pipes  from  the 
kitchen  boilers  to  the  bathrooms  conspicuously 
crossed  the  dining-room  walls.  All  the  plumbing  in 
this  building  was  exposed,  and  as  the  position  of 
these  pipes  could  not  be  changed  they  were  bronzed, 
supported  on  frequent  brackets,  and  served  for  taste- 
ful picture  rods. 

All  distribution  pipes  were  pitched  up  a  little  con- 
tinuously  all  the  way  from  the  main  pipe,  and  so  ar- 
ranged that  when  the  water  supply  was  turned  off 
from  any  apartment  all  the  pipes  in  its  system  could 
be  emptied  by  one  drip  cock,  thus  avoiding  the 
danger  of  freezing  when  the  place  chanced  to  be 
untenanted. 


KITCHEN    BOILER    ARRANGEMENT    IN     A 
NEW   YORK  RESIDENCE. 

(PUBLISHED  IN  i8gi.) 

THE  accompanying  illustration  shows  a  kitchen 
water  heater  as  fitted  up  in  the  residence  of  W.  C. 
Andrews,  854  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York. 

The  upper  part  of  the  illustration  represents  the 
boiler  in  the  basement,  while  the  lower  part  shows 
the  water  heater  in  the  celler.  W  is  a  hollow  copper 
cylinder  about  6  inches  long,  the  end  which  is  in- 
serted into  the  boiler  being  closed  up  so  as  to  make  it 
water-tight.  The  end  projecting  from  the  boiler 
is  open  so  as  to  admit  a  thermostat. 

When  the  heater  above  is  not  required  the  valves 
B  E  and  F  are  closed  and  the  valves  S  and  H  are 
opened,  and  it  will  heat  from  the  range.  To  use 
both  heater  and  range  open  valves  B  E  and  F  and 
close  valves  S  H. 

A  designates  the  Croton  supply  to  kitchen  sink  and 
butler's  pantry  sink;  B,  tank  supply  to  hot-water 
heater  in  cellar;  the  valve  on  this  pipe  is  to  be  shut 
when  hot  water  is  not  in  use,  and  to  be  opened  when 
in  use;  C,  intermediate  pipe;  T,  check  valve;  D, 
Croton  supply  to  boiler;  E,  inside  boiler  or  tank  cir- 
culation, to  be  kept  open  when  heater  is  in  use,  and 
to  be  kept  .closed  when  not  in  use;  F,  connecting  pipe 
for  boiler  and  heater,  to  be  kept  open  when  heater  is 
in  use,  and  to  be  closed  when  heater  is  not  in  use;  G 
emptying  pipe  for  outside  boiler;  H,  inside  boiler  or 
tank  circulation,  to  be  kept  closed  when  heater  is  in 
use,  to  be  kept  open  when  heater  is  not  in  use;  I, 
emptying  pipe  for  inside  boiler;  J,  Croton  circulation 
for  inside  boiler;  K,  tank  or  inside  circulation;  L, 


hot  water  from  outside  boiler  to  supply  lower  floor . 
M,  hot  water  from  inside  boiler  of  tank,  to  supply 
upper  floor;  N,  tank  supply  to  inside  boiler,  or  to 
heater  in  cellar;  O,  hot- water  supply  to  kitchen  sink; 
P,  Croton  supply  to  kitchen  sink;  Q,  hot-water  sup- 
ply to  butler's  pantry  sink;  R,  Croton  supply  to  but- 


KITCHEN   BOILER   IN    A   NEW   YORK   CITV   RESIDENCE. 

ler's  pantry  sink;  S,  tank  supply  to  the  inside  or  high- 
pressure  boiler,  to  be  kept  closed  when  hot-water 
heater  is  in  use,  and  to  be  kept  open  when  heater  is 
not  in  use;  U,  steam  supply  to  boiler;  V,  return  from 
boiler;  W,  thermostat. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


In  this  case  the  boiler  in  the  basement  is  in  a  small 
room  adjoining  the  kitchen.  The  walls  are  lined  with 
Italian  marble.  The  boiler  and  fittings  are  all  nickel- 
plated;  the  pipes  are  of  tinned  brass.  The  pipes  are 
hung  about  4  inches  from  ceiling  on  nickel-plated 
plates  and  hangers,  and  where  pipes  go  through  the 
wall,  floor  or  ceiling  there  is  a  nickel-plated  flange, 
all  in  one  piece,  through  which  the  pipes  are  put. 

We  have  here  a  self-acting  water  heater  (connected 
with  the  kitchen  boiler),  heated,  by  steam,  and  regu- 
lated by  electricity,  and  the  temperature  of  water  is 
said  to  never  vary  beyond  3  degrees.  It  is  thus 
claimed  to  be  a  great  improvement  on  the  old  hot- 
water  heater,  heated  by  a  coal  fire,  and  requiring 
constant  attendance  to  maintain  a  proper  tempera- 
ture, besides  entailing  dust  and  danger  from  a  fire 
in  the  cellar. 

The  reason  that  this  heater  was  put  in  was  that 
after  taking  one  or  two  baths,  the  hot  water  in  the 
boiler  was  used  up,  and  consequently  considerable 
time  would  elapse  before  another  supply  was  availa- 
ble. In  this  case,  however,  the  thermostat  is  so  set 
that  while  drawing  water  for  a  bath,  the  cold  water, 
which  has  displaced  the  hot  water,  is  heated  up 
again  in  a  comparatively  short  time,  because  as  soon 
as  the  temperature  of  the  water  drops  3  degrees 
the  thermostat  opens  valves,  admitting  steam  to  the 
interior  coil  shown. 

Mr.  W.  C.  Andrews  has  had  one  in  his  residence 
at  2  East  Sixty-seventh  Street,  New  York,  for  two 
years,  where  it  is  said  to  have  given  every  satis- 
faction. 

Messrs.  Lamb  &  Rich,  of  New  York,  were  the  archi- 
tects, and  the  arrangement  described  was  put  in  by 
Mr.  George  A.  Pace,  of  New  York. 


PLUMBING    IN    A    NEW    ENGLAND 
RESIDENCE. 

(PUBLISHED  IN  1896.) 

IN  designing  and  executing  the  plumbing  of  the 
new  house  of  Mrs.  Edward  Perkins,  of  Hartford, 
Conn.,  it  was  intended  to  make  the  work  as  complete, 
simple,  efficient,  and  durable  as  possible,  and  to  pro- 
vide very  carefully  for  its  operation  and  maintenance. 
The  accompanying  illustrations  and  description  are 
intended  to  show  the  general  plan,  methods,  and 
workmanship  adopted  for  this  purpose.  The  number 
and  location  of  fixtures,  their  style  and  arrangement, 
and-the  storage  distribution  and  control  of  the  hot 
and  cold  water  supply  were  not  unusual,  but  the 
principal  features  of  the  waste  and  vent  systems  and 
the  materials,  proportions,  and  workmanship  of  the 
whole  installation  are  shown  by  the  following  draw- 
ings and  description,  prepared  from  the  original 
designs. 

Figure  i  is  a  basement  plan  showing  connections 
of  soil  and  waste  pipes  to  the  main  drain,  and  in- 
dicating by  dotted  lines  those  pipes  which  are  on  the 
ceiling  or  are  buried,  those  on  the  cellar  floor  being 
shown  in  full.  The  different  cleanouts,  traps,  and 
air  pipes,  leaders  and  tile  drains  are  also  noted  on 
the  drawing  to  show  the  thorough  provision  for  the 


flow  and  ventilation,  and  for  access  to  all  parts  of  the 
system  to  remove  obstructions  if  necessary. 

Figure  2  is  a  small-scale  plan  of  the  second  story, 
merely  intended  to  show  the  position  of  the  fixtures, 
which  in  general  were  served  by  adjacent  stacks  of 
vertical  pipes,  not  here  shown. 

Figure  3  is  a  partial  vertical  section  at  Z  Z,  Figs. 
i  and  2,  showing  an  elevation  of  the  main  stack  of 
soil  pipes  and  most  of  the  fixtures. 

From  the  street  sewer  a  6-inch  salt-glazed  Akron 
hub  and  spigot  earthenware  drain  is  laid,  with  con- 
tinuous grade  of  not  less  than  i  foot  in  10  feet,  and 
jointed  with  Alsen's  neat  Portland  cement,  each 
joint  being  thoroughly  swabbed  out.  All  pipe 
lengths  bear  throughout  on  the  body  of  pipe,  pockets 
in  trench  being  cut  for  hubs.  No  stones  or  rock  were 
allowed  to  come  within  12  inches  of  the  pipe.  The 
backfilling  was  well  rammed  for  each  12  inches  in 
depth  filled.  At  the  property  line  a  running  trap 
was  set,  and  a  cleanout  and  s-inch  iron  fresh-air 
inlet  and  sewer  vent,  one  on  each  side  of  the  trap, 
were  carried  18  inches  above  ground,  and  finished 
with  one-quarter  bends  and  brass-bar  gratings 
screwed  into  the  bends.  Four-inch  earthenware 
branches  were  connected  for  the  rainwater  leaders. 
Outside  of  the  house  this  pipe  connects  with  a  5-inch 
extra-heavy  iron  drain  with  the  Y  on  the  house 
sewer.  In  the  cellar  there  is  also  a  running  trap, 
with  a  heavy  brass  cleanout  on  the  house  side,  an 
iron  plug  on  the  sewer  side,  and  a  4-inch  fresh-air 
inlet,  extended  30  feet  or  more  from  outside  of  the 
house,  and  turned  up  18  inches  above  the  ground, 
with  a  one-quarter  bend  and  a  brass-bar  grating. 
An  8x8-inch  brick  pier  was  built  at  the  base  of  each 
vertical  column,  and  the  pipe  was  supported  solidly 
on  the  pier.  All  branch  connections  are  Y's  and 
one-eighth  bends  or  TY's.  Y-branch  connections 
are  well  turned  up.  The  floor  openings  were  all  cut 
from  the  top  to  the  bottom  of  every  column  before 
the  vertical  pipe  was  put  in.  All  openings  in  floors 
and  ceilings  about  lines  of  pipes  are  entirely  closed 
and  packed  with  mineral  wool  so  as  to  entirely  seal 
the  opening.  All  pipes  at  the  roof  are  flashed  with 
heavy  copper,  with  slip-collar  joint  clamped  to  the 
pipe  to  allow  for  expansion.  The  rainwater  leaders 
are  connected  in  the  cellar  to  the  area  drains,  using 
an  extra-heavy  cast-iron  ending  2  feet  above  grade 
for  the  leaders.  The  leaders  and  area  drains  have 
independent  extra-heavy  cast-iron  traps  inside 
of  the  cellar  wall,  with  heavy  brass  cleanouts 
on  the  house  side  of  the  traps,  which  have 
not  less  than  3  inches  of  water  seal.  All 
wrought-iron  pipe  and  fittings  are  galvanized. 
The  water  pipes  are  of  "Standard"  pipe,  factory- 
tested  to  300  pounds  per  square  inch.  All  wrought- 
iron  drain,  waste,  and  vent  pipes  are  "  extra  strong." 
Pipe  up  to  1%  inches  diameter  is  butt-welded,  and 
the  larger  sizes  are  lap-welded.  All  water  pipes  and 
fittings  are  standard  galvanized  iron.  Ground  brass 
unions  were  used  at  frequent  intervals  to  admit  of 
ready  repair. 

Bedroom  basins  were  particularly  required.  The 
entire  waste  system  from  these  basins  is  quite  inde- 
pendent of  the  drains  connecting  with  the  sewer. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


The  main  waste  from  these  basins  discharges  over 
an  earthenware  flushing  rim  slopsink  in  the  cellar, 
provided  with  flush  tank.  The  basin  waste  main  at 
the  sink  is  trapped  and  provided  with  an  independent 
3-inch  fresh-air  inlet  extended  30  feet  outside  of  the 
house.  The  basin  waste  branches  are  all  vented  to 
the  roof,  forming  a  complete  vented  system  of  basin 
wastes  entirely  cut  off  from  any  connection  with  the 
sewer  or  sewer-connected  drains. 

The  cellar  underdrains  connect  into  a  deep-seal 
anti  back-pressure  trap  in  a  brick  pocket  below  the 
cellar  floor.  The  discharge  from  the  back-pressure 
trap  connects  back  of  a  rain-leader  trap  and  has  a 
weeper  from  the  cellar  slopsink  flush  pipe,  which  will 
keep  both  the  anti  back-pressure  trap  and  rain-leader 
trap  supplied  with  water  in  case  of  drought,  and  will 
prevent  evaporation  of  the  seal  in  those  traps. 
Stoppage  in  the  waste  beyond  leader  trap  will  be 
announced  by  flooding  at  the  area  drain  at  the  foot 


of  the  steps  leading  to  the  cellar.  Backflow  into 
the  under-cellar  drains  will  be  prevented  by  the 
anti  back-pressure  trap.* 

All  threaded  pipe  work  is  put  together  with  red 
lead.  All  lead  soil,  waste,  and  vent  pipe  is  drawn 
pipe  of  the  best  quality,  and  of  the  following  weights 
per  lineal  foot. 


Diameters. 
1A  inch  .. 

3/4 


Weight  oer  Foot, 
i      pound. 


All  connections  of  lead  and  iron  pipe  are  made  by 
"  heavy  "  brass  ferrules  of  the  same  size  as  the  lead 
pipe,  threaded  and  screwed  or  calked  into  the  hub  of 
the  iron  pipe.  All  hot  and  cold  supply  pipes  at 
fixtures  have  12  inches  extension  beyond  faucets  or 
branches  to  prevent  water  hammer.  The  following 

A/o  te- 6"  Trap  with  Fresh-/tir  Inlet  carried°l8"S^y 
^surface  of  around,  to  be  p/aced  near  property  fine  • 

^"noar 


3"Leader 

'  Trpp  with  Cfeancuf 


~~--~----- 
S  3"  Iron  Pipe  from  Boile 
I  Pit  to  Blind  Drain  Trench 
outside. 


Basm  Waste-, 
2" C/eanout  T- 


-*i/z"  weeper  from  Slopsink  Flush  Tank  to 
" i '4"  Trap  nTfh C/eanout 

"#/.  Pipe  hung  on  Cei/iry 


*.  \     <4"LeaderTrapivith C/eanout\' 


'2" 'Basin  Waste 
2"  Kitchen  Jink  Waste 
,    2"  Waste  and  Back -Sir 
i  \'.  from  Laundry  Tubs. 
\-\'4"So>7  Pipe 

2." Leader  Trap  trith  C/eanout _ 


"Leader  Trap  with  deanou 


Wleader 


THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD 


FlG.t 

Basement  Plan 


PLUMBING  IN  A  HARTFORD,   CONN..   RESIDENCE. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


4"6oil- 


\-4"  Back-Air 

\-4"  Basin  Vent ' 


FiG.5 
Section  at  Z-Z 


Basement 

3"  Basin  tYasfe 
Trap  &  Cleanout 


2"  from  Leader' 
a-  '/a " Weeper  from <Slops'mk 
Flush  Tank  to  Founaation  Dram. 
b-  3"  Foundation  Drain 
'jC-3" 'Fresh-Sir  Inlet  to  Basin  Waste  System 


THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD. 


Scale 

0'        5'       10'       15'      20'      2S 

1 1 1  1 1  I         '         I   1 


.  FiG.2 
Second  Floor  Plan 


PLUMBING   IN   A   HARTFORD,   CONN  ,   RESIDENCE. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE, 


size  branches  were  provided  for  fixtures:  Laundry 
tubs,  2^-inch;  water-closets,  j^-inch;  slopsink,  %- 
inch;  pantry  sink,  ^-inch;  kitchen  sink,  ^"-inch; 
bathtubs,  %-inch;  basins,  J^-inch;  dark-room  sink, 
3^-inch;  sill  cocks,  ^-inch.  All  stop  cocks  and 
valves  throughout  the  building  have  nickel-plated 
brass  tags  with  their  number  neatly  stamped  on 
them.  All  cold  pipes  in  the  kitchen  and  elsewhere 
where  the  pipes  will  ' '  sweat "  are  painted  three  coats 
of  white  lead  and  shellac.  The  photographer's  wood 
sink  and  1 8-inch  back  was  made  and  set  by  the  car- 
penter, and  is  36x18  inches  deep,  with  a  shallow 
gutter  at  the  back  drained  to  the  outlet,  with  a  %- 
inch  pitch  in  tte  bottom  of  the  sink.  The  sink  and 
the  iS-inch  back  were  lined  by  the  plumber  with  four- 
pound  sheet  lead.  The  sink  has  a  large  ash  drain- 
board  and  rim,  and  two^-inch  brass  compression  cocks 
9  inches  from  each  end  of  the  sink.  The  cocks  are  pro- 
vided with  18  inches  of  J^  inch  rubber  hose  wired  on. 
All  basins  except  bathroom  basins  connect  with  2- 
inch  extra-strong  galvanized  wrought-iron  waste 
columns  extended  3  feet  above  the  roof,  increased  to  4 
inches  at  the  roof,  with  expansion  copper  roof  flashing 
joint.  The  basin  waste  columns  connect  in  the 
cellar  with  a  3-inch  extra-strong  galvanized  wrought- 
iron  waste  main  hung  to  the  first-floor  beams  and  dis- 
charging over  the  cellar  slopsink.  The  waste  main 
has  a  3- inch  running  trap  and  an  independent  3- inch 
fresh-air  inlet  extended  30  feet  outside  of  the  house 
wall,  with  a  one-quarter  bend  and  a  grating  18  inches 
above  ground.  The  basin  traps  on  this  system  are 


returned  vented  into  their  respective  waste  columns. 
The  trap  for  the  third-floor  dark-room  sink  has  a  3- 
inch  water  seal.  At  the  points  shown  on  drawings 
heavy  brass  screw-cover  cleanouts  are  provided.  All 
brass  trap  and  fixture  fittings  and  water-closet  back 
airs  have  ground  brass  fittings.  No  washer  couplings 
or  fittings  are  used. 

All  of  the  soil,  waste,  drain,  and  vent  pipes  were 
tested  by  the  plumber  in  the  presence  of  the  engi- 
neer by  a  water-pressure  test,  and  upon  final  comple- 
tion of  the  work  and  after  all  fixtures  were  set  and  in. 
working  order  the  smoke  test  and  the  peppermint 
test  were  applied  satisfactorily  to  the  entire  system 
of  drains. 

The  list  of  fixtures  is  as  follows: 


Basement. 

4->  ,4 

Second 
Floor. 

"H  ** 
gl 

Water-closets  

Baths  

Basins  

6 

Sinks                     .               ..  . 

Slopsinks  

Laundry  tubs  

i  set  of  3 

The  above  work  was  designed  and  supervised  by 
Mr.  Albert  L.  Webster.  C.  E..  New  York. 

Peabody  &  Stearns,  of  Boston,  were  the  architects, 
and  the  installation  was  made  by  W.  H.  Spelman  & 
Co.,  of  New  York  City. 


PLUMBING   OF  HOTELS. 


PLUMBING  IN  THE  WALDORF  HOTEL. 

(PUBLISHED  IN  1893.) 

PART    I. — ARRANGEMENT  OF    MAIN    DRAINS    IN    THE    BASE- 
MENT. 

PROMINENT  among  the  hotels  which  have  lately 
.been  erected  in  that  region  of  New  York  City  extend- 
ing from  Twenty-third  Street  to  the  Central  Park  is 
the  Waldorf  Hotel,  now  approaching  completion. 
This  structure,  which  is  a  14-story  building  of  iron, 
stone,  and  brick,  occupies  a  corner  of  Fifth  Avenue 
and  Thirty-third  Street.  Its  general  drainage  scheme 
is  indicated  on  the  accompanying  plan,  Fig.  i,  which 
shows  the  run  of  the  horizontal  pipes  and  the  loca- 
tion of  risers.  About  two-thirds  of  the  area  of  the 
plan  shown  has  a  subbasement  beneath  it,  and  in 
this  part  of  the  building  all  the  pipes  are  suspended 
from  the  subbasement  ceiling,  and  are  of  screwed 
wrought  iron.  Where  there  is  no  subbasement  the 
sewer  pipes  are  of  cast-iron  and  are  bedded  in 
trenches  in  the  earth.  With  the  exception  of  one 
piece  of  leader  drain  on  the  wall  this  is  the  only  cast 
pipe  used  in  the  plumbing  of  the  building.  All  the 
hot  and  cold  water  supply  lines  are  so  connected  that 
every  branch  and  fixture  may  be  removed  without 
interfering  with  the  others  on  the  same  line. 


The  floor  drains  are  connected  to  special  wastes 
which  are  trapped  into  the  sewer  and  are  flushed  at 
daily  intervals  by  special  automatic  flush  tanks.  All 
drainage  below  the  level  of  the  basement  floor  is 
received  in  a  cesspool  and  automatically  pumped  out. 
In  the  general  toilet-rooms  there  are  three  cisterns, 
each  automatically  flushing  the  urinals,  and  so  con- 
nected that  each  cistern  flushes  all  the  urinal  traps  at 
each  discharge. 

The  trap  vent  risers  are  of  large  diameter,  most  of 
them  being  4  inches  or  5  inches  at  the  foot  and  larger 
at  the  roof.  In  some  instances,  where  practicable, 
several  of  them  are  connected  at  the  foot  by  an  open 
horizontal  pipe  intended  to  maintain  an  equilibrium 
between  them,  and  to  afford  an  air  supply  to  each 
cluster  of  fixtures  from  each  of  the  connected  risers. 

The  lines  of  sewer,  soil,  waste,  and  vent  pipes  have 
been  tested  in  sections  from  time  to  time  as  the  work 
progressed,  so  as  to  give  frequent  checks  on  the 
quality  of  the  work  and  prevent  the  possibility  of 
serious  defects  being  developed  by  the  ultimate  test. 
The  final  test  was  made  upon  every  cluster  of  fix- 
tures served  by  each  set  of  risers,  and  so  arranged  as 
to  be  connected  in  one  circuit  and  to  receive  air 
pressure  from  a  single  point.  The  pipes  tested  were 


/2  Iron 
2"  Brass 
Lock  Nut 
Washer 
Cup  Leather 
Wooden  Spacer 
Cup  Leather 
Washer 
Lock  Nut 
Plug 


THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD 


Fig.3 


Fig.  4 


PLUMBING   IN   THE   WALDORF   HOTEL,    NEW   YORK   CITY. 


ira 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


from  \y2  to  8  inches  in  diameter,  and  aggregated 
over  15  miles  in  length.  They  satisfactorily  sustained 
an  air  pressure  of  about  20  pounds  per  square  inch, 
which  was  maintained  for  half  an  hour. 

The  difficulties  of  designing  and  arranging  the" 
drainage  system  were  much  increased  by  the  impos- 
sibility of  carrying  any  part  of  it  through  large  areas 
of  the  lower  floors  which  were  required  to  be  unob- 
structed for  corridors,  rotunda,  halls,  etc.  Especial 
care  was  necessary  in  proportioning  the  lowest 
branches  of  the  soil-pipe  risers  which  served  many 
clusters  of  fixtures  and  were  obliquely  carried  for 
long  horizontal  distances.  Their  flow  was  carefully 
computed  and  then  the  pitch  was  made  excessive 
enough  to  provide  for  the  delivery  of  much  more 
than  the  total  volume  of  water  that  could  come  from 
the  simultaneous  discharge  of  all  the  fixtures,  so  as 
to  prevent  all  possibility  of  backing  up  at  the  lowest 
connections.  Their  capacities  were  demonstrated  by 
connecting  three  leaders  to  one  of  the  waste  pipes 
designed  to  serve  only  one,  which  freely  discharged 
their  combined  flow  without  backing  up  at  all. 

The  estimated  cost  of  the  plumbing  and  gasfitting 
was  about  $200,000,  and  the  contracts  for  it  were 
executed  by  Messrs.  Byrne  &  Tucker,  of  New  York, 
in  accordance  with  the  plans  of  H.  J.  Hardenberg. 

PART    II. — TESTS    OF    SOIL    AND    VENT    PIPES. 

THERE  are  in  the  hotel  29  sets  of  soil  and  ventila- 
tion riser  pipes  extending  above  the  roof,  and  each 
serving  clusters  of  fixtures  in  vertical  tiers  in  most  or 
all  of  the  15  stories.  These  pipes,  all  of  screwed 
wrought  iron,  were  tested  from  time  to  time  as  they 
were  extended  from  the  bottom  up,  and  again  when 
completed  ready  for  the  connection  of  the  fixtures. 
The  average  height  of  each  stack  was  about 
170  feet,  and  an  idea  of  the  number  of  joints, 
i, 800  to  3,000  for  each  set  of  two  pipes,  con- 
nections and  fittings  thus  tested  and  retested,  may  be 
derived  from  the  statement  that  nearly  every  one  of 
the  29  sets  of  risers  served  10  bath  and  toilet  rooms 
arranged  as  indicated  in  Fig.  2,  where,  however, 
only  the  system  is  shown  and  the  necessary  offsets 
and  extra  pipes  are  not  indicated.  A  special  trap 
screw,  not  shown  in  the  figure,  was  put  just  beyond 
the  vent  pipe  on  the  soil-pipe  side  of  the  bathtub 
trap,  which  was  originally  designed  to  be  accessible 
through  the  overflow  connections. 

Two  important  features  of  the  arrangement  are  the 
unvarying  location  of  the  vent-pipe  branches  above 
the  overflows,  so  as  to  avoid  the  possibility  of  their 
acting  as  overflows  should  the  waste  be  obstructed, 
and  the  provision  of  what  is  substantially  a  double 
ventilation  of  the  water-closet  trap,  which  may  be 
effected  either  through  branch  A  or  connected  branch 
I.  In  testing,  the  open  ends  were  all  closed  by 
screwed  caps  and  air  pressure  applied  through  the 
flexible  hose  A,  Fig.  3,  one  end  being  connected  by 
screw  coupling  to  a  point  near  the  foot  of  the  soil 
pipe  which  was  connected  to  its  adjacent  vent  pipe, 
or  "vice  versa,  and  the  other  end  to  the  discharge  of 
an  air  pump  P,  Fig.  3,  on  which  was  set  a  mercurial 
gauge  G.  The  commercial  portable  air  pumps  not 
proving  of  sufficiently  rapid  action,  and  being  con- 


sidered not  adapted  to  this  work,  it  was  found  con- 
venient and  economical  to  construct  pumps  on  the 
spot,  which  was  very  easily  and  simply  done,  as 
indicated  in  Fig.  4.  The  barrel  of  the  pump  was 
simply  a  piece  of  2  inch  brass  pipe  B,  which  was  so 
true  and  straight  and  of  so  exact  a  bore  as  manufac- 
tured as  to  need  no  finishing  whatever  to  receive  the 
plunger  C,  the  rod  of  which  D  was  constructed  of  a 
piece  of  >£-inch  gas  pipe,  and  furnished  with  a  gas- 
pipe  crossbar  F  long  enough  for  four  men  to  grasp. 
A  little  piece  of  f^-inch  iron  pipe  J  served  both  for 
suction  and  delivery,  and  the  inlet  and  discharge 
were  respectively  controlled  by  the  two  ordinary 
check  valves  E  and  K,  both  opening  upwards.  On 
the  upstroke  of  the  plunger  valve  K  opened  and  ad- 
mitted outside  air  to  the  partial  vacuum  formed  in 
the  lower  part  of  barrel  B.  On  the  downstroke  of 
the  plunger  this  air  was  compressed,  and  closing 
valve  K  opened  valve  E  and  was  discharged  through 
it,  pipe  H  and  hose  A  into  the  closed  system  of 
pipes.  When  plunger  C  again  ascends  the  pressure 
in  the  barrel  becomes  diminished  and  the  pressure  in 
pipe  H  closes  valve  E.  Atmospheric  pressure  opens 
valve  K,  more  air  is  drawn  into  the  pump  barrel  and 
forced  into  the  pipes,  and  so  on.  Just  above  check 
valve  E  there  is  in  the  pipe  H  a  stop-cock,  which  is 
not  shown  in  Fig.  3. 

Figure  4  shows  the  details  of  construction  of  the 
plunger,  etc.,  and  like  Figs.  2,  3,  and  5,  is  not  drawn 
to  exact  scale  or  dimensions,  but  is  intended  merely 
to  show  the  arrangement,  construction,  and  operation. 
Rod  D  passes  loosely  through  cap  I,  but  as  the  clear- 
ance did  not  allow  the  air  to  escape  freely  enough  on 
the  upstrokes,  L  L  were  cut  in  the  rod  and  handle 
and  allowed  free  discharge  as  indicated  by  the 
arrows.  The  apparatus  was  secured  by  a  bottom 
flange  to  a  2-inch  base  plank,  12  inches  wide  by  6 
feet  long,  on  which  the  men  stood  to  operate  it.  The 
entire  weight  was  about  100  pounds,  and  it  proved 
very  efficient  and  satisfactory.  Four  of  these  pumps 
were  made  for  this  job  at  a  nominal  cost,  as  all  the 
materials  were  taken  from  ordinary  stock,  and  they 
required  no  repairs  or  alterations. 

In  the  beginning  of  a  test,  first  one  and  then  two 
men  were  required  to  pump.  The  average  time  re- 
quired to  produce  a  pressure  of  10  pounds  was  20 
minutes.  The  Board  of  Health  Inspectors  specified 
that  a  test  would  be  considered  satisfactory  if  a 
mercury  gauge. column  20  inches  high  did  not  fall 
more  than  one  half  inch  in  20  minutes  after  the 
pumping  ceased.  In  the  final  tests  the  greatest 
leakage  discovered  caused  a  fall  of  only  one-half  of 
an  inch  in  the  2o-inch  mercury  column  in  22  minutes 
after  the  pumping  ceased,  and  in  many  instances 
there  was  no  appreciable  fall  whatever.  When  it  is 
considered  how  slight  an  aperture  will  permit  the 
escape  of  air  and  that  the  pressure  is  uniform  at  all 
points,  it  will  be  seen  how  thorough  this  test  is,  and 
how  much  more  positive  it  is  than  the  usual  water 
column,  especially  for  the  upper  part  of  the  system, 
where  the  hydrostatic  pressure  diminishes  to  zero. 

Figure  5  shows  the  ordinary  mercurial  gauge  G, 
Fig.  3,  used  to  indicate  the  test  pressures.  Air 
pressure  from  the  pump  discharge  pipe  H  is  admitted 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


by  pipe  M  to  the  cast-iron  chamber  N,  in  which  is  an 
open  iron  cup  O  filled  with  mercury.  A  plain  glass 
tube  Q,  open  at  both  ends,  dips  beneath  the  surface 
of  the  mercury  nearly  to  the  bottom  of  the  cistern, 
and  is  protected  by  a  brass  tube  or  case  R,  which  is 
capped  at  the  upper  end  and  screwed  to  the  iron  case 


containing  the  cup  O,  the  packing  S  making  an  air- 
tight joint.  The  pressure  is  in  the  pipe  system 
being  communicated  by  pipe  M  to  chamber  N,  acts 
downwards  on  the  surface  of  the  mercury  in  the  cup 
and  forces  it  up  in  tube  Q,  where  its  height  is  ob- 
served through  a  slot  T  T,  in  case  R,  and  can  be 
marked  by  the  index  U,  which  is  a  close-fitting 
sleeve,  which  can  be  set  at  any  position  to  measure 
variations  from.  About  100  tests  were  made  by 
Foreman  John  Hanson,  who  devised  the  pump,  and 
was  in  charge  of  the  work. 

PART  III. — PIPE  SYSTEM  AND  TANKS  FOR  DOMESTIC  AND 
FIRE  SERVICE,  SPECIAL  BACK-PRESSURE  VALVE,  AND 
PNEUMATIC  MERCURY  GAUGE  AND  HOT-WATER  BOILER, 
AND  CIRCULATION  LOOPS. 

ALL  the  cold  water  used  above  the  first  floor  is 
pumped  to  the  tanks  A  and  B,  Fig.  6,  in  the  attic  by 
the  two  8-inch  and  I2"x8^"xio"  compound  duplex 
Worthington  steam  pumps  C  C  in  the  basement. 


PLUMBING   IN   THE   WALDORF  HOTEL. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


These  pumps  connect  through  pipes  O  O  O  with  the 
8-inch  horizontal  pipe  D,  from  which  two  5-inch  pipes 
E  E  rise,  connecting  to  the  two  attic  tanks.  They 
are  cross-connected  by  the  5-inch  pipe  F  at  the  level 
of  the  bottom  of  tank  A.  Pipes  E  E  discharge  into 
the  tanks  through  the  5-inch  back-pressure  valves  G 
G,  set  so  that  the  disk  of  the  valve  may  be  held  open 
by  the  lever  and  chain  connection  H  extending  to  the 
engine-room,  where  the  ends  are  secured  in  such 
manner  that  they  may  be  released  at  the  will  of  the 
engineer.  The  details  of  valve  G  are  shown  in  this 
figure.  The  tanks  are  built  of  fg-inch  wrought  iron, 
and  each  has  a  wrought-iron  safe  pan  with  a  2-inch 
waste  a  a.  The  tanks  may  be  emptied  through  the 
i  Yi  -inch  emptying  pipes  b  b,  and  c  c  are  the  4-inch 
overflow  pipes.  All  these  pipes  may  empty  into  the 
rainwater  leader  pipes. 

Upon  each  floor  there  is  taken  off  from  pipes  E  E 
a  2^ -inch  connection  to  which  is  attached  valve  I  for 
fire  service.  Each  of  these  valves  has  connected 
100  feet  of  linen  rubber-lined  hose  and  a  hose  pipe,  all 
of  which  are  housed  upon  a  swinging  rack  ready  for 
immediate  use.  For  fire- extinguishing  the  16,000 
gallons  of  water  in  the  attic  tanks  is  always  avail- 
able, the  water  passing  back  to  the  rising  lines  E  E 
through  the  back- pressure  valves  G  G  which  are  held 
open  by  the  lines  H  H.  By  letting  go  either  line  H 
the  flap  of  the  valve  which  it  controls  is  closed  and 
by  starting  the  2o"xn"xi5"  Worthington  steam  fire 
pump  J,  which  is  connected  to  the  pipe  D,  its  full 
pressure  may  be  directed  into  the  lines  being  used 
for  fire  purposes.  At  the  ends  of  pipe  D  are  located 
the  4-inch  check  valves  K  K.  The  discharge  ends  of 
these  connect  with  4-inch  pipes  passing  through 
the  walls  and  turning  upward,  where  they  end  with 
standard  fire-department  coupling  connections.  In 
the  event  of  a  fire  calling  the  city  department  to 
the  building  the  firemen  would  couple  their  hose  to 
this  pipe,  using  the  pipes  E  E  as  stand-pipes,  and 
availing  themselves  of  the  hose  already  in  position 
upon  the  several  floors.  Safety  valve  Q  on  pipe  D 
is  intended  to  relieve  excessive  pressure  in  the  event 
of  the  closing  of  valves  G  G  while  the  steam  pumps 
are  working. 

The  height  of  the  water  in  the  attic  tanks  is  re- 
corded in  the  engine-room  by  means  of  a  pneumatic 
mercury  gauge  especially  designed  for  this  work  by 
Mr.  Hanson,  the  foreman  plumber  engaged  upon  it. 
It  is  illustrated  in  Fig.  7.  In  each  of  the  tanks  an  air 
compressor  is  erected,  formed  of  the  3-inch  wrought- 
iron  pipe  A,  which  is  of  equal  height  with  the  tank. 
The  base,  a  cast-iron  flange,  is  fastened  to  the  tank 
bottom,  and  close  to  it  is  the  open  centered  tie  B. 
The  upper  end  of  the  compressor  is  reduced  to  three- 
eighths  of  an  inch  in  diameter  and  is  connected  to 
the  2^-inch  pipe  C,  which,  descending  to  the  engine- 
room,  is  there  connected  with  the  mercury  column 
H,  Fig.  7.  It  is  controlled  at  the  point  of  connection 
by  the  valve  D.  The  mercury  column  is  of  ordinary 
construction,  except  that  at  the  base  of  the  reservoir 
E  is  inserted  the  close-fitting  piston  head  F,  which 
may  be  raised  as  required  by  the  screwed  stem  G  to 
allow  of  adjustment  when,  by  reason  of  reduc- 
tion of  the  quantity  of  mercury  in  the  column,  the 


scale  fails  to  accurately  register  the  height  of  water 
in  the  tank.  The  tank  being  empty  mercury  is  intro- 
duced into  the  reservoir  and  columns  until  it  shows 
at  O.  The  valve  D  is  opened  and  the  water  as  the 
tank  is  filled  closes  the  opening  B,  preventing  the 
farther  escape  of  air.  As  the  water  rises  it  gradually 
compresses  the  air,  which  pressure,  transmitted 
through  the  pipe  C  to  the  mercury  in  the  reservoir  E, 
drives  it  up  in  the  graduated  glass  tube  H,  which  is 
long  enough  to  indicate  a  full  tank.  The  full  marks 
on  the  glass  agree  with  even  feet  of  water  in  the 
tank,  and  the  one-twelfth  graduations  correspond 
to  immediate  inches  of  depth.  As  the  water  is 
lowered  in  the  tank  and  the  air  pressure  is  lessened 
the  mercury  drops  in  the  gauge  glass. 

From  each  of  the  attic  tanks  the  4-inch  wrought- 
iron  pipes  L  L,  Fig  6,  which,  descending  to  the 
cellar,  are  connected  through  3-inch  pipe  R  with  the 
3ox84-inch  heavy  wrought-iron  tank  M.  On  the  top 
of  this  tank  is  connected  the  4 -inch  horizontal  drum 
N.  from  which  radiate  the  2-inch  cold-water  pipes 
P  P,  etc.  leading  to  the  several  riser  lines  supplying 
cold  water  to  the  plumbing  fixtures  on  all  the  floors 
above  the  first.  All  connections  to  tank  M  and  the 
pipes  from  drum  N  have  valves  for  use  in  case  of 
repairs.  These  risers  are  cross-connected  by  a  4-inch 
horizontal  pipe  so  valved  that  either  tank  may  be  cut 
out  of  service  if  necessary.  Pipe  R  also  serves  to 
connect  the  cold-water  pipes  L  L  with  the  wrought- 
iron  boiler  S  in  the  basement.  This  is  built  of  y%- 
inch  iron,  and  is  strongly  made  to  withstand  the 
pressure  from  the  attic  tanks.  The  water  in  this 
boiler  is  heated  by  a  brass  coil,  to  which  steam  from 
the  power  boilers  is  admitted.  There  are  also 
arrangements  for  heating  this  coil  by  exhaust  steam 
from  any  of  the  several  steam  pumps  or  engines  in 
the  cellar.  On  the  top  of  this  boiler  is  built  the 
double-connected  4-inch  drum  T,  from  which  is  laid 
the  2-inch  galvanized-iron  pipes  U  U,  etc.  supplying 
hot  water  to  plumbing  fixtures  above  the  first  floor. 
Pipes  T  rise  to  a  point  above  the  highest  fixtures  and 
then  return  by  the  i^-inch  galvanized-iron  circu- 
lation pipes  V  to  the  3-inch  drum  W,  which  is  double- 
connected  to  the  bottom  of  the  boiler  S,  thus  forming 
a  circulation  loop  which  gives  hot  water  at  any  point 
of  draft  on  its  line.  The  tops  of  all  these  loops  are 
relieved  of  air  or  steam,  which  would  interfere  with 
the  circulation,  through  the  ^-inch  galvanized-iron 
relief  pipes  X. 

Upon  the  same  floor  as  tank  A  is  the  3ox84-inch 
wrought-iron  tank  Y,  Fig.  6,  which  is  used  for  heat- 
ing the  water  for  the  laundry  located  on  the  floor 
immediately  beneath.  Cold  water  enters  the  boiler 
from  the  pipe  F  through  the  2  j^-inch  pipe  e  having 
the  check  valve  Z  to  prevent  the  return  of  hot  water 
into  the  tank  A.  The  water  in  boiler  Y  is  heated  by 
a  brass  coil  to  which  steam  is  supplied  from  a  live- 
steam  pipe  in  the  laundry  service,  or  by  the  exhaust 
steam  from  the  40  horse-power  engine  in  the  laundry 
which  furnishes  power  for  all  the  laundry  machinery. 
From  the  top  of  this  boiler  Y  is  laid  the  2^-inch 
galvanized-iron  pipe  d  to  the  laundry,  and  from  the 
highest  point  of  this  pipe  is  carried  a  %"-inch  relief 
pipe/"  into  tank  A. 


AM  ERIC  AX  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


PART    IV. — DRIP   BOXES   AND   RUNNING   TRAPS   ON   HOUSE 
DRAINS. 

ALL  of  the  floor  drains  shown  in  the  ground  plan, 
Fig.  i,  and  those  in  the  cellar  have  square  cast-iron 
drip  boxes,  as  shown  in  Fig.  8,  which  are  also  used 
as  cleanout  boxes.  Some  of  them  are  large  enough 
to  allow  of  the  assembling  in  them  of  several  drains, 
which  are  then  carried  to  the  main  drainage  system 
through  a  larger  size  pipe,  having  a  full-size  running 
trap.  Each  of  these  traps  had  a  cleanout  G  set  in  a 
manhole  with  cast-iron  cover  to  allow  of  ready  in- 
spection. On  long  lines  of  drain  pipes  and  at  some 
of  their  intersecting  points  these  cast-iron  junction 
boxes  are  used  in  order  that  they  may  be  readily 
cleaned  or  inspected.  On  these  cases  a  flat  cast-iron 
cover  takes  the  place  of  the  brass  perforated  top  A. 
So  far  as  possible  two  or  more  of  these  floor  drains 
were  connected  with  each  run  of  the  drainage  pipes, 
and  at  the  highest  ends  of  each  of  them  were  set 
automatic  flushing  tanks  supplied  by  the  waste  from 
the  cold-water  drinking-fountains.  The  cooling  coils 
for  these  fountains  are  made  a  part  of  the  general 
refrigerating  and  icemaking  plant,  and  a  current 
must  consequently  be  continuously  maintained  to 
prevent  freezing.  Floor-drain  bell  traps,  which  are 
liable  to  become  clogged  when  subjected  to  the 
severe  service  to  be  expected  in  a  job  of  this  magni- 
tude, are  thus  avoided,  and  a  cleanout  arrangement 
is  provided.  All  of  the  brass  covers  A  are  arranged 
for  ready  removal.  The  inlets  B  and  the  outlet  D' 
in  the  cast-iron  box  C  are  cast  flush  with  the  inside 
bottom,  which  is  pitched  to  form  canals  through 
which  the  water  may  flow  unimpeded. 

The  cast-iron  running  traps  A,  Fig,  9,  on  the  main 
house  drains  were  set  sufficiently  beyond  the  inside 
lines  of  the  area  walls  to  give  a  vertical  fall  to  any 


dirt,  water,  etc.  which  gained  entrance  to  the  fresh- 
air  inlet  B  on  the  house  side  of  the  traps  in  order  to 
guard  against  a  common  cause  of  failure  of  fresh-air 
inlets  to  operate.  All  matter  or  water  so  falling 
passes  directly  into  the  trap  and  is  readily  washed 
away.  The  cast-iron  round  bottomed  bowls  C  were 
made  especially  for  this  job.  They  were  set  in  the 
brickwork  of  the  sidewalk  arches,  the  wide  flanges  D 
allowing  of  a  water-tight  cement  joint.  The  stone 
walk  above  the  bowls  was  pierced  and  fitted  with 
the  oblong  brass  bar  plates  E.  Ample  clearing  space 
is  left  between  the  bars,  and  as  the  widest  part  of 
the  opening  is  at  the  bottom  they  are  practically  self- 
clearing.  On  the  bottom  of  the  bowls  were  cast 
collars  upon  which  were  tap-screwed  the  6  and  8  inch 
flanges  to  which  the  upright  wrought-iron  pipe  F 


DETAIL  OF  GRATING. 


EiC.i«ff«,«c  RECORD. 


DRIP  BOXES   IN  THE   WALDORF   HOTEL. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING    PRACTICE. 


57 


connecting  with  the  standing  collar  B  was  screwed. 
There  are  separate  sinks  for  washing  the  silver- 
ware, dishes,  and  cooking  utensils,  each  having  a 
separate  cast-iron  Tucker  grease  trap  23  inches  high 
and  28  inches  in  diameter,  which  is  the  largest  size 
made,  conveniently  located  for  cleaning  out.  All  the 
cold  water  used  in  the  kitchen  and  pantry  is  passed 
through  the  water  chambers  of  these  traps,  the  pro- 
portion  being  divided  according  to  the  service. 

PART  V.  —  WATER    FILTERS    AND    CONNECTIONS. 

ALL  the  water  used  in  the  hotel  is  filtered.  The 
plant  for  this  purpose  comprises  two  Cummings  fil- 
ters made  by  the  Cummings  Filter  Company,  of  Phil- 
adelphia. Through  one  is  passed  the  water  for  the 
icemaking  apparatus,  the  boilers,  the  culinary  de- 
partment, and  for  all  other  uses  in  the  cellar,  base- 


-12-0 


is  perforated  with  ^-inch  holes  and  has  soldered 
upon  its  under  side  a  fine  meshed  brass  wire  cloth. 
Three  inches  below  this  plate  is  a  similar  one,  and 
between  them  is  a  3-inch  bed  of  clean-washed  pea- 
size  gravel  H.  At  the  bottom  of  the  cylinders  at 
joints  S  S  are  placed  perforated  plates,  gravel,  joints, 
etc.  similar  to  those  described  at  the  top.  Upon  the 
top  of  the  lower  diaphragms  is  palced  4  feet  of  loosly 
filled-in  animal  charcoal,  shown  at  I.  The  cock  B 
being  set  for  delivery  to  the  filter  sand  the  water 
turned  on  from  the  pipe  A,  it  passes  up  C  C  and  into 
the  cylinders  passing  through  the  perforated  plates 
and  gravel  bed.  It  fills  the  water  space  J  and  passes 
down  through  the  charcoal  I  and  through  the  lower 
plates  and  gravel  to  the  pipe  K  leading  to  the  pumps. 
The  animal  charcoal  is  heavier  than  water  and  con- 
sequently remains  sufficiently  compacted  for  filtering 


FIG.  10 


'  TMI  ENGINEERING  RECORD. 


WATER    FILTERS    IN   THE   WALDORF    HOTEL. 


ment,  and  first  floor.  Through  the  other  is  passed  all 
the  water  used  on  floors  above  the  first.  Each  of 
these  filtering  tanks  is  composed  of  a  6o-inch  sectional 
cast-iron  cylinder  with  bases  and  tops  as  shown  in 
elevation  and  broken  section  in  Fig.  10.  The  filters 
stand  9  feet  6  inches  high.  All  the  internal  metallic 
surfaces  are  treated  by  the  Bower-Barff  anti-rusting 
process. 

Water  is  delivered  from  the  4  inch  Thomson  meters 
through  the  4-inch  pipe  A  to  the  six  way  cock  B. 
The  line  is  then  branched  into  the  4-inch  pipes  C  C, 
which  enter  the  tops  of  the  separate  cylinders  E  E. 
The  cast-iron  top  plate  F  is  dished  so  as  to  allow  a 
3-inch  space  between  its  upper  surface,  and  a  T\-inch 
galvanized-iron  diaphragm  plate  which,  with  its  pack- 
ing,  is  inserted  at  the  upper  joints  at  G.  This  plate 


without  compression.  By  closing  valve  L  which 
controls  the  flow  of  filtered  water  to  the  pumps 
and  turning  the  six- way  cock  B,  filtered  water  from 
one  of  the  cylinders  may  be  passed  upward  into  the 
other  through  pipe  K  for  the  purpose  of  washing  the 
filter.  This  waiter  passes  in  the  reverse  direction 
through  the  bed  of  charcoal  and  down  through  pipe 
C  to  the  six-way  cock  by  which  it  is  directed  into  the 
waste  pipe  M  leading  to  the  sewer  N.  A  single 
movement  of  the  cock  B  will  make  the  effluent  of 
either  cylinder  wash  the  other. 

Each  of  these  cylinders  occupies  a  ground  space  of 
72x1 50  inches.  The  weight  of  each  charged  and  ready 
for  service  is  about  14  tons,  of  which  three  tons  is 
animal  charcoal.  The  plant  is  designed  to  filter 
150,000  gallons  daily. 


78 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


PLUMBING  IN  THE  LAKEWOOD,  N.  J., 
HOTEL. 

(PUBLISHED  IN  1891.) 

PART    I. — ENGINE-ROOM,     PUMPS,     SUCTION    TANKS,     AND 
LAUNDRY    BOILER. 

THE  Lakewood,  at  Lakewood,  N.  J.,  is  a  four-story 
brick  and  iron  building,  with  a  frontage  of  465  feet 
and  a  total  depth  of  408  feet. 

Figure  i  is  a  general  view  of  the  engine-room  in 
the  basement.  Lake  water  is  received  in  suction 
tank  A,  through  two  ball  cocks  in  the  supply  pipe  B. 
C  is  a  4-inch  suction  pipe  to  the  (Blake)  house  pump 
D,  which  delivers  through  3-inch  pipe  E  to  the  roof 
tanks.  F  is  the  live  and  G  the  exhaust-steam  pipe 


H  is  the  fire  pump,  with  a  4-inch  suction  I,  from  the 
tank,  and  a  3-inch  suction  J,  from  an  artesian  well. 
K  is  an  air  chamber.  Pump  H  delivers  through  pipe 
L,  in  which  a  short  section  of  heavy  rubber  M  is  set 
to  prevent  the  transmission  of  vibrations  through  the 
house  by  the  riser  and  branch  pipes. 

N  is  a  branch  by  which  the  tank  A  may  be  filled 
from  the  artesian  well  if  lake  supply  fails.  O  is  a 
4-inch  fire  line,  with  hose  cocks  and  reels  in  every 
corridor.  P  is  a  branch  connecting  with  delivery  E 
from  pump  D  to  the  house  tanks.  Q  is  a  pressure  reg- 
ulating valve.  R  and  S  are  branches  from  the  exhaust 
and  live  steam  pipes  G  and  F  respectively.  T  is  the 
400-gallon  hot- water  boiler  supplying  the  wash- 


I™ 

PLUMBING   IN   THE  LAKEWOOD,    N.    J.,    HOTEL. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


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AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


basins  and  bathtubs  throughout  the  house  and  the 
kitchen  through  2-inch  pipe  U.  It  is  supplied  through 
branch  X  and  may  be  emptied  through  Y. 

The  coils  receive  live  and  exbaust  steam  through 
pipes  V  and  W  respectively.  &  &  &  are  condensa- 
tion and  drip  pipes  and  Z  Z  are  emptying  pipes  for 
riser  lines. 

Figure  2  shows  the  laundry  boiler  A,  about  8  feet 
long  by  3  feet  6  inches  diameter,  and  containing  a 
ioo-foot  coil  of  i  j^-inch  copper  pipe.  This  receives 
steam  through  pipe  B,  connected  with  live  supply  C 
and  exhaust  supply  D. 

E  E  are  i-inch  return  pipes,  and  F  is  a  drip  and 
emptying  pipe  for  the  coil.  G  is  a  special  cold-water 
supply  from  the  roof  tank,  but  the  regular  supply  is 
from  city  mains  through  pipe  H  and  check  valve  I 
that  prevents  tank  water  escaping  to  the  street.  J  is 
thei^-inch  cold-water  distribution  to  the  laundry, 
and  K  is  the  2-inch  emptying  pipe.  L  is  the  i^-inch 
hot-water  supply  with  i^-inch  branches  to  servants' 
toilet  and  bath  room,  and  laundry  tubs.  O  is  a  steam 
pipe,  and  P  is  the  safety  valve  set  at  75  pounds.  Q  Q, 
etc.,  is  a  i  J^-inch  pipe  frame  supporting  the  boiler. 

PART    II. — ROOF   TANKS,    PUMP    GOVERNOR,    URINAL    AND 
SOIL   PIPE. 

FIGURE  3  shows  the  construction  and  arrangement 
of  the  house  storage  tanks  in  the  attic.  They  are  built 
of  i^-inch  wrought  iron,  and  have  a  united  capacity 
of  about  15,000  gallons.  They  are  rilled  through  the 
3-inch  pump  pipe  A  and  separate  valves  B  B  on 
2^-inch  branches,  and  may  be  emptied  through  the 
2J4-inch  pipes  C  C  that  discharge  through  the  waste 
pipes  W  W  of  the  4-inch  overflow  stand-pipes  O  O. 
The  latter  terminate  in  copper  funnels  F  F,  about  8 
inches  in  diameter  and  8  inches  high. 

The  house  supply  is  through  the  4-inch  pipe  S, 
with  3-inch  branches  D  D,  which  serve  as  equalizing 
pipes  between  the  two  tanks  and  valves  E  E.  These 
last  enable  either  tank  to  be  cut  out  for  emptying, 
etc.,  without  interrupting  the  house  supply. 

G  is  a  2^-inch  pipe  from  the  hot-water  boiler  T, 
Fig.  I,  and  H  H  are  ^"-inch  relief  pipes  from  the 
hot-water  circulation  pipes  of  the  east  and  west  wing 
systems. 

I  I  are  2 -inch  safe  wastes  that  discharge  into  a  sink 
in  the  pump-room.  J  is  the  ^-inch  pressure  pipe  to 
the  pump  governor. 

Figure  4  is  a  section  through  the  bottom  of  the 
tank,  showing  details  of  safe  and  support.  Figure  5 
shows  the  automatic  governor  for  pump  D,  Fig.  i. 
S  is  the  suction  and  T  the  tank  pipe.  A  is  a  >£-inch 
pressure  pipe  from  the  tank  connected  to  a  diaphragm 
damper  regulator  B,  which  has  a  slide  weight  P,  and 
suspended  weight  Q,  so  adjusted  that  the  lever  arm 
C  will  only  rise  when  the  pressure  is  just  equivalent 
to  a  full  tank  head  on  pipe  A.  E  is  a  flexible  copper 
wire  cable  tightly  strained  by  weights  P  and  Q,  and 
having  two  adjustable  clips  I  and  J,  set  so  that  when 
lever  C  rises,  clip  J  engages  the  lever  G  of  valve  U, 
and  raising  it,  closes  it  and  shuts  off  steam  supply  to 
the  pump  through  pipe  M.  When  tank  pressure 
falls,  lever  C  also  falls,  and  clip  I  engages  lever  G, 
depressing  it  and  opening  valve  U  so  as  to  admit 


steam  and  start  the  pump;  when  tank  is  again  full, 
lever  C  rises  and  shuts  off  the  steam  and  so  on.  K 
is  a  valve  for  operating  the  pump  by  hand,  and  L  is 
a  petcock. 

Figure  9  is  a  view  of  the  urinals  in  the  principal 
toilet-room.  The  cistern  C  is  in  three  compartments, 
each  supplied  through  double  ball  cocks  through 
water  pipe  B  and  flushing  through  }^-inch  curved, 
silver-plated  brass  pipes  that  have  special  connections 
at  A  A  to  equalize  the  flow  through  pipes  D  D  and 
E,  in  order  that  the  latter  may  not  receive  more  than 
one-third  of  the  total  amount.  The  diaphragm  H  is  in  - 
troduced  at  Z  Z  (see  detail)  to  obstruct  pipe  E,  and 
divert  equal  amounts  of  water  through  D  and  D. 

Adjacent  to  the  above  toilet  room  is  another  con- 
taining three  sets  of  water  closets  and  one  row  of 
basins.  The  waste  and  soil  pipes  from  all  these  fix- 
tures are  carried  exposed  just  below  the  ceiling  of  the 
basement  room  underneath,  and  this  arrangement  is 
shown  in  the  diagram.  Fig.  7.  In  this  A  A  and  B  B 
are  the  branches  to  fixtures,  each  being  connected 
with  double  Y's  to  the  main  soil  pipes  G  and  H,  that 
Y  into  the  6  inch  sewer-pipe  S.  The  latter  goes  di- 
rect to  the  main  sewer.  D  is  a  rainwater  leader 
flushing  out  pipe  S,  and  E  and  F  are  connections  to 
washstands  and  urinal  wastes.  All  parts  of  the  pipes 
are  commanded  by  the  cleaning  screws  K  K  K. 

PART  III. — KITCHEN  AND  SCULLERY  SYSTEMS. 

FIGURE  8  is  a  view  of  the  kitchen  arrangement. 
K  K,  etc.  are  boilers,  and  L  L,  etc.  are  steamers, 
to  all  of  which  live  steam  is  supplied  through  pipe  S, 
and  returns  through  pipe  E.  F  F  are  wooden  vege- 
table tanks,  and  D  is  a  wooden  soaking  tank.  Q  Q 
are  iron  safes,  and  Z  Z  their  drip  pipes. 

G  is  a  trap  vent  from  the  waste  of  tank  F,  and  I  is 
a  trap  vent  from  trap  on  safe  wastes.  C  C  C  are  cold, 
and  H  is  a  hot-water  supply  pipe.  A  is  a  steam,  and 
B  a  hot-water  pipe  for  flushing  traps  for  tank  D. 

J  J,  etc.  are  2-inch  ventilation  pipes  for  taking  the 
vapor  away  from  the  cooking  food.  They  are  re- 
ceived in  3-inch  branch  N,  which  discharges  through. 
6-inch  pipe  O  into  an  exhaust  flue,  wnich  conveys  it 
away  from  any  danger  of  penetrating  the  hotel  rooms. 

Figure  9  shows  a  cross-section  through  one  of  the 
copper  boilers  K  ;  the  meaning  of  the  same  reference 
letters  is  the  same  as  in  Fig.  8.  A  chamber  is  formed 
between  the  outer  and  inner  shells,  and  receives  live 
steam  which  is  used  for  cooking. 

W  is  a  perforated  strainer  cap,  and  X  an  empty- 
ing cock.  U  is  an  iron  supporting  frame,  and  I  the 
cold-water  cock.  R  is  a  vent  pipe  controlled  by  valve 
M. 

Figure  10  shows  the  dishwashing  sinks  G  G,  in  the 
scullery.  The  waste  traps  are  commanded  by  screws 
as  at  S.  E  E  are  draining  boards.  H  is  a  hot,  and 
C  a  cold-water  supply,  and  A  is  a  live  steam  pipe 
with  branches  D  D,  etc.,  and  perforated  heads  K  K,. 
etc.,  for  blowing  steam  into  the  water  to  heat  it  rap- 
idly in  the  sinks.  The  2-inch  trap  pipes  V  V  are  con- 
nected by  branches  M  and  N  respectively  with  the 
steam  and  cold-water  pipes,  so  as  to  clean  out  the 
wastes  in  the  following  manner  :  Close  valve  O  and 
open  P;  then  steam  will  be  forced  through  lower 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


81 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


part  of  vent  pipe  V  and  through  waste  pipe  W  to  the 
sewer,  blowing  out  all  grease,  sediment,  and  other 
obstructions;  then  close  P  and  open  Q,  and  the  pipe 
will  be  flushed  with  hot  water,  and  the  trap  seal  re- 
stored if  broken;  finally  close  Q  and  open  O  and  then 
the  operation  is  completed.  This  system  has  been 
applied  to  all  the  sinks  in  the  kitchen. 

Throughout  the  kitchen  waste  system,  which  is 
separate  from  main  building,  all  pipes  are  cast  iron 
with  rust  joints.  A  full  diameter,  open-way  valve  is 
set  below  the  sink  strainer  in  each  waste  pipe,  per- 
mitting discharge  from  above  and  preventing  the 
escape  of  steam  into  the  sink. 

Figure  u  shows  a  large  grease  trap,  through  which 
all  waste  water  from  the  kitchen  is  discharged  to  the 
subbasement  sink  S.  A  is  the  inlet,  and  B  the  outlet 
pipe,  both  2^  inches  in  diameter;  C  is  a  key  valve, 
and  D  a  screw  plug  for  emptying  by  means  of  a  hose. 
P  is  a  supporting- pipe  frame.  The  top  is  removable. 
All  water  pipe  in  this  hotel  is  of  galvanized  wrought 
iron,  except  where  plated  brass  pipe  is  exposed  in 
the  toilet-room,  etc. 

All  waste,  soil,  and  vent  pipes  were  tested  to 
about  40  pounds  hydraulic  pressure  after  being  set. 
William  Schickel  &  Co.,  of  New  York,  were  the  archi- 
tects, and  John  Tourney  &  Son,  of  New  York,  exe- 
cuted the  plumbing. 


PLUMBING   IN   THE    NEW  COATES  HOUSE, 
KANSAS  CITY,  MO. 

(PUBLISHED   IN    1891.) 

PART    I. — GENERAL     DESCRIPTION,     BASEMENT   AND    MAIN 
PIPE    PLAN. 

THE  following  illustrations  and  description  of  the 
plumbing-work  in  the  new  Coates  House,  at  Kansas 
City,  Mo.,  of  which  Messrs.  Van  Brunt  &  Howe  were 
the  architects,  have  been  prepared  from  photographs 
of  the  completed  work  and  blue-prints  of  the  plans 
under  which  the  work  was  done.  These  were  pre- 
pared by  Messrs.  E.  D.  Hornbrook  &  Co.,  plumbers, 
of  Kansas  City,  and  submitted  with  their  proposal. 

The  source  of  water  supply  for  the  new  addition, 
as  well  as  the  old  portion  of  the  hotel,  is  from  tne 
house  tanks  located  on  the  roof  of  the  old  part  of  the 
building.  The  hot-water  supply  is  connected  with 
the  hot-water  boilers  located  in  the  basement  of  the 
old  part.  The  main  galvanized-iron  supply  pipes 
suspended  from  ceiling,  and  which  are  connected  to 
hot  and  cold-water  headers  in  the  old  part  of  the 
building,  are  2  inches  in  diameter. 

All  rising  lines  throughout  the  building,  hot  and 
circulation  pipes,  are  of  brass.  Cold  water  and  safe 
waste  pipes  are  of  galvanized  iron.  At  the  base  of 
all  risers  there  is  a  valve  placed  in  the  hot,  cold,  and 
circulating  pipes  for  controlling  each  line  separately, 
with  tees  and  drain  cocks  for  draining  the  lines. 
Each  private  bathroom  is  cut  off  independently  by 
valves  located  in  each  room. 

All  underground  house  and  rainwater  drainage, 
as  well  as  rising  lines,  including  ventilating  lines, 
with  closet  traps,  vent  and  waste  connections  all  con- 
nected in  place  with  ends  closed  up,  were  tested 


by  water  test,  by  filling  the  entire  system  with  water 
to  5  feet  above  the  roof,  which  is  100  feet  high. 

The  method  of  making  the  soil-pipe  joints  was  by 
special  tools.  The  entire  job  was  perfectly  tight 
with  but  three  exceptions,  and  the  plumbing  inspec- 
tor was  called  upon  only  twice  to  pass  this  entire  job. 

Underneath  all  fixtures  in  private  bathrooms  there 
are  Italian  marble  floor  slabs,  fitted  with  6-inch  base 
all  round,  and  polished- cherry  wainscoting,  5  feet 
high  all  round  the  rooms.  Water-closet  partitions, 
back  and  sides  are  all  Italian  marble  7  feet  high. 
Urinal  and  closet  tanks  are  also  cased  with  marble. 
Urinal  stalls,  backs  and  sides  are  Italian  marble, 
backs  7  feet  high,  and  partitions  6  feet.  The  marble- 
work  is  put  together  and  supported  in  a  special 
manner,  without  the  use  of  brass  or  nickel-plated 
clamps,  bolts,  etc.,  such  as  are  ordinarily  used. 

Figure  i  is  a  basement  plan,  showing  the  arrange- 
ment of  the  underground  drainage,  soil  and  waste 
pipes  of  the  different  fixtures  throughout  the  building, 
as  well  as  the  roof  drainage.  The  main  roof  drain- 
age is  8-inch  extra  heavy  cast-iron  pipe  with  connec- 
tions leading  to  the  various  down-spouts  (D  D,  etc.) 
and  area  drains  throughout  the  building.  The  bot- 
toms of  the  areas  are  5  to  6  feet  above  the  basement 
floor.  This  8-inch  pipe  is  connected  to  a  12  inch 
main  drain  outside  of  the  main  house  trap,  with  back- 
pressure valves  as  shown,  so  that  if  at  any  time  the 
main  sewer  becomes  stopped  it  would  not  back  up 
into  the  roof  or  down-spout  drainage  pipe. 

The  main  house  drainage  is  10  inch  extra  heavy 
cast-iron  soil  pipe,  fitted  with  house  trap  and  6-inch 
fresh-air  inlet  I  is  a  section  showing  the  method  of 
connecting  the  branch  soil  pipes  with  the  main  10- 
inch  iron  drain  ;  J  is  a  detail  showing  method  of  con- 
necting the  wastes  from  six  bathtubs  in  the  Turkish 
bath  department ;  K  is  a  detail  of  the  overflow  and 
waste  from  the  plunge  pool  in  the  Turkish  bath  de- 
partment, which  is  fitted  with  4-inch  gate  valve  and 
4-inch  Barrett  back-pressure  valve  and  trap. 

This  pool  is  also  fitted  with  a  3-inch  polished-brass 
nickel  plated  standing  overflow  pipe,  which  is  con- 
nected outside  of  the  gate  valve.  The  top  of  the  stand- 
ing overflow  is  funnel-shaped,  S  inches  in  diameter, 
and  is  so  arranged  that  it  can  be  lifted  out  of  its 
socket  at  the  bottom  of  pool  when  it  is  desired  to 
empty  the  pool  in  a  hurry,  by  the  use  of  both  valve 
and  the  removal  of  standing  waste.  L  is  the  trap 
under  each  bathtub,  which  is  fitted  with  a  4-inch 
polished-brass  trap  screw  flush  with  marble  floor, 
from  which  the  vent  is  connected  by  a  union  joint. 
This  method  of  trapping  the  bathtubs  is  carried  out 
throughout  all  the  bathrooms.  M  is  a  4-inch  extra 
heavy  branch  drain  fitted  with  4-inch  Barrett  back- 
pressure valve  and  trap,  which  is  connected  to  the 
various  polished-brass  floor  strainers  for  draining  the 
marble  floors  under  needle  baths,  rubbing  and  sham- 
poo slabs. 

PART  u. — GENTLEMEN'S  TOILET-ROOM,  PLAN,  ELEVATION, 

SECTION  AND   DIAGRAM    OF    URINALS    AND    CLOSETS, 
SECTION  AND  DESCRIPTION  OF  PUBLIC  TOILET-ROOMS. 

ALL  the  public  toilet-rooms  are  in  the  same  vertical 
line  in  the  center  of  the  house.  The  back-air  pipe  is 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


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AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE, 


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PLUMBING  IN  THE  NEW   COAXES   HOUSE,    KANSAS  CITY,    MO 


AMERICAN   PLUMBING    PRACTICE. 


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AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


3  inches  from  basement,  where  it  is  connected  to  the 
traps  of  six  bathtubs  and  one  lavatory,  increasing 
on  the  third  floor  to  4  inches,  and  on  the  fourth  floor 
increasing  to  5  inches,  and  so  continues  through  the 
roof.  On  the  third  floor  there  are  four  water-closets, 
supplied  with  a  flush  tank  over  each  closet.  On 
each  of  the  fourth,  fifth,  and  sixth  floors  there  are 
three  water-closets,  two  bathtubs  and  one  sink,  the 
latter  not  shown  on  the  plans.  There  are  no  fixtures 
located  on  the  first  and  second  floors  on  this  line. 


Figure  8  is  a  section  through  the  closets  showing 
the  arrangement  and  connections  of  the  soil  and  trap 
vent  pipes.  Figure  9  is  a  plan  of  the  gentlemen's 
toilet-rooms  on  the  first  floor,  showing  arrangement 
of  soil  pipes.  Figure  10  is  an  elevation  at  Z  Z,  Fig. 
9,  showing  the  connection  and  arrangement  of  the 
urinal  waste,  vent  and  soil  pipes.  The  3-inch  local 


vent  pipe  is  connected  to  the  main  ventilating  shaft, 
which  is  6  feet  in  diameter,  and  in  which  there  is  an 
exhaust  fan  with  connections  leading  to  Turkish  bath 
for  ventilating  the  same. 

Figure  12  is  a  section  of  urinals  at  X  X,  Fig.  10. 
Figure  n  is  a  general  view  of  two  urinals  standing 
at  position  N.  Access  to  urinal  traps  and  connec- 
tions is  obtained  through  an  8  and  lo-inch  opening 
left  in  the  marble  slab  and  covered  by  urinal.  By 
unscrewing  the  supply  and  waste  cap  the  urinal  can 
be  removed.  Figure  13  is  an  elevation  from  Y  Y, 
Fig.  9,  showing  the  soil  and  vent  pipe  connections  for 
the  water-closets. 

Figure  17  is  an  end  section  at  A  B,  Fig.  9,  of  the 
main  washstand,  showing  arrangement  of  traps, 
waste,  vent,  and  supply  connections,  also  brackets 
for  supporting  stand.  Figure  18  is  a  longitudinal 
section  at  C  D,  Fig.  9. 

The  top  slab  of  main  washstand  is  i^  inches 
thick  polished  Italian  marble,  and  is  made  in  four 
pieces;  length  over  all  is  13  feet  6  inches;  width  5 
feet  6  inches,  fitted  with  10  15x19  oval  basins. 

PART  III. CONNECTION    DETAILS   AND    PLAN   OF   MARBLE- 
WORK,    PRIVATE   BATHROOMS. 

FIGURES  2  to  6  inclusive  show  the  diagrams  by 
which  the  marble- work  was  ordered  and  set.  Figure 
3  is  a  plan  of  the  main  public  toilet-room  water-clos- 
ets. Figure  4  is  a  section  at  Z  Z,  Figs.  3  and  5.  Fig- 
ure 5  is  an  elevation  at  X  X,  Fig.  3.  Figure  6  is  a 
plan  of  adjacent  urinal  stalls  with  inclosed  pipe 
chamber  S.  Figure  7  is  an  elevation  from  W  W, 
Fig.  6,  and  Fig.  2  is  a  section  at  V  V,  Fig,  7. 

Figure  14  is  a  general  view  of  one  of  the  35  private 
bathrooms.  Figure  16  shows  the  arrangement  of 
pipes  behind  movable  paneling  P,  Fig.  14.  Figure 
1513  a  floor  plan  and  section  at  Z  Z  Z,  Fig.  16.  The 
different  pipes  are  designated  by  reference  letters  as 
follows.  A,  safe  waste  riser;  B,  hot-water  supply; 
C,  hot-water  circulation;  D,  cold-water  supply;  E, 
soil  pipe;  F,  back  air;  II,  basin  supplies;  J,  waste 
from  basin;  M,  vent  from  basin  trap;  K,  bathtub 
waste;  N,  vent  from  bathtub  trap;  LL,  safe  wastes; 
G,  bathtub  trap;  H,  water-closet  trap. 

PART  IV. — TURKISH  BATH,    MAIN  WASHSTAND,  DRINKING- 
FOUNTAIN.  BARBER    SHOP,  ETC. 

FIGURE  19  is  a  view  taken  of  the  work  underneath 
the  main  washstand  from  position  M  in  the  gentle- 
men's toilet-room,  Fig.  9.  The  supports  for  carrying 
the  main  slab  are  i]^  inches  polished  brass,  the  bolts 
passing  through  the  flanges  on  same  at  base  of 
marble  run  through  from  side  to  side  of  base.  Waste 
fixtures,  traps,  wastes,  and  vent  connections,  as  well 
as  supplies,  valves,  and  all  exposed  work,  are  polished 
brass.  It  will  be  noticed  that  the  back-air  pipe 
passes  up  through  the  center  of  the  slab  and  is  3-inch 
polished  brass  pipe,  and  connects  above  the  ceiling 
of  toilet-room  with  4-inch  extra  heavy  cast-iron  vent 
pipe  from  closets  and  urinals,  which  extends  up 
through  and  above  the  roof  full  size. 

Figure  20  is  a  general  view  of  the  toilet-room  from 
the  same  position  as  Fig.  19.  Figure  21  is  a  general 
view  of  the  arrangement  of  supply  pipes  and  valves 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING    PRACTICE. 


over  the  Turkish  plunge  bath  T,  which  is  2o'x5o'x6' 
deep  to  the  average  surface  of  the  water.  Hot  and 
cold  water  is  supplied  to  the  plunge  through  2-inch 
pipe  M,  discharging  at  the  bottom  of  plunge.  The 
two  lions'  heads  A  A  are  supplied  with  hot  and  cold 
water  through  two  i  %-inch  supply  pipes,  which  flow 
through  the  mouths  of  the  lions'  heads  into  the  pool, 
thus  constantly  keeping  the  water  in  motion. 

There  is  also  just  over  center  of  pool  a  large  shower 
Bi  4  feet  in  diameter,  made  of  2-inch  polished-brass 
pipe,  nickel-plated,  with  a  large  douche  in  its  center. 
Surrounding  the  douche  or  center  shower  is 
a  circle  C,  of  incandescent  electric  lamps.  This 
shower  is  also  supplied  with  hot  and  cold  water 
through  two  i^-inch  pipe  connections.  The  effect 
of  the  electric  light  on  the  water  when  the  shower 
is  in  use  is  considered  very  pretty.  The  valves  for 
controlling  the  various  supplies  to  the  pool  are  all 
placed  overhead  on  one  side  of  the  pool. 

The  different  supplies,  etc.,  are  controlled  by 
valves;  D,  hot  to  plunge;  E,  cold  to  plunge;  F  and 
valve  opposite,  hot  and  cold  to  special  shower;  G  and 
valve  opposite,  hot  and  cold  to  lions' heads;  H,  I,  and 
J,  hot  circulation  and  cold  supplies  leading  to  a  tier 
of  private  bathrooms  up  through  the  building,  K,  K, 
and  K,  drain  valves;  L  L,  etc.,  pipe-hanger  supports. 

In  the  barber  shop  the  four  center  columns  are 
surrounded  by  a  large  washstand,  which  contains  10 
15x19  oval  basins.  The  3-inch  galvanized-iron  vent 
passes  up  through  a  large  cup  case  in  center  of  the 
stand  to  above  the  ceiling,  and  there  connects  to  a 
4-inch  extra  heavy  cast-iron  vent  pipe  from  the  slop- 
sinks,  which  extends  up  through  the  building  and 
above  the  roof.  There  is  also  a  large  shampoo  stand 
in  one  end  of  the  room;  its  supplies  are  sm ponded 
from  ceiling,  with  branches  leading  across  to  a  large 
center  stand,  which  pass  down  through  the  large  cup 
case,  supplying  the  basins  and  have  drains  on  their 
lower  ends. 

These  supplies  are  all  finished  in  silver  bronze  to 
suit  the  decoration  of  the  room.  The  woodwork 
around  the  large  stand  is  polished  cherry  with  lo-inch 
marble  base.  A  marble  drinking-fountain  in  the 
rotunda  of  the  main  office  is  a  very  handsome  piece 
of  carving  on  Italian  marble,  and  is  supplied  with 
ice-cold  water.  The  waste  leading  from  the  fountain 
does  not  connect  direct  with  the  house  drainage.  It 
discharges  in  an  open  sink  located  in  the  basement 
room  below.  This  sink  also  receives  all  the  safe 
waste  pipes  from  fixtures  on  upper  floors  throughout 
the  building.  The  discharging  ends  of  these  are 
fitted  with  check  valves.  The  waste  from  this  sink  is 
a  2-inch  pipe,  properly  trapped  and  ventilated,  and 
the  trap  receives  an  almost  constant  flow  of  water 
from  the  drinking-fountain  waste,  as  this  sink  is  used 
for  no  other  purpose. 

All  the  gas  and  electric-light  fixtures  on  the  first 
and  second  floors,  including  a  chandelier,  6)4  feet 
diameter,  in  the  office  dome,  are  finished  in  light 
steel,  and  were  also  furnished  by  E.  D.  Hornbrook 
&  Co.,  together  with  the  total  amount  of  plumbing 
fixtures,  as  follows:  One  carved  Italian  marble 
drinking-fountain,  60  water-closets,  49  lavatory 
basins,  50  porcelain-lined  French  bathtubs,  10  large 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING    PRACTICE. 


I'LUMBING   IN   THE   NEW    COAXES    HOUSE,    KANSAS    CITY,    MO 


lip  urinals,  six  slopsinks,  two  large  nickel-plated 
needle  baths,  fitted  with  needle  spray,  shower,  liver 
spray  and  douche  attachments,  cased  in  Italian 
marble;  nine  rubbing  slabs  with  hot  and  cold 
showers,  two  vapor  showers,  one  large  shampoo 
slab,  one  plunge,  and  one  fountain  in  reception-room 
of  Turkish  bath  department. 


HOT  AND  COLD-WATER  SYSTEM  IN  A  MIL- 
WAUKEE HOTEL. 

(PUBLISHED  IN  1893.) 

THE  Pabst  Hotel,  now  called  the  St.  Charles,  Mil- 
waukee, Wis.,  was  built  in  1860,  and  was  refitted 


and  the  plumbing  extended  and  modified  in  1891  by 
Halsey  Brothers,  Milwaukee,  who  arranged  the 
work  so  as  to  control  all  hot  and  cold-water  supplies 
from  the  engine  room  in  the  cellar,  as  shown  in  the 
accompanying  view  of  the  valve  board,  heater,  and 
main  connections,  the  pipes  and  valves  being  set  to 
meet  previous  conditions,  and  conveniently  and  com- 
pactly arranged  with  symmetry  on  the  walls  and 
low  ceiling.  The  street  supply  is  through  a  4-inch 
main,  which  ordinarily  delivers  through  a  4-inch 
Worthington  meter,  which  is  by-passed  as  shown 
for  repairs  or  emergencies.  The  cold  supply  pipe 
from  the  meter  has  independent  branches  to  the  4- 
inch  house  distribution  drum  Z  from  i-inch  galvan- 

HOT  DISTRIBUTION  DRUM  JC, 
& 

nh 


.COLD  DISTRIBUTION 
DRUM  Z 


-EXH/IUST  STE/tM 
-WASTE 


HOT    AND    COLD-WATER    SYSTEM    IN    A    MILWAUKEE    HOTEL. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


ized-iron  pipes  A  A,  etc.,  to  supply  the  different 
upper  stories;  B  to  boiler,  fire  and  elevator  pumps; 
C  to  the  barber  shop;  D  to  the  basement  fixtures; 
E  to  the  roof  storage  tank,  and  K  to  the  hot-water 
boiler,  which  contains  an  interior  brass  steam  coil, 
whose  action  is  automatically  regulated  by  the 
operation  of  the  pneumatic  diaphragm  M,  which 
closes  the  attached  steam  valve  as  soon  as  the  tem- 
perature of  the  water  in  the  boiler  reaches  a  fixed 
point  (usually  required  to  be  200°  Fahr.),  and  causes 
the  thermostat  (not  here  shown)  to  complete  the 
electric  circuit  through  wires  N  and  actuates  an 
electromagnet  that  admits  pneumatic  pressure  to 
the  diaphragm  M.  Hot  water  is  distributed  to  the 
various  lines  H  H,  etc.,  from  the  4-inch  drum  X. 
Each  line  is  vented  and  has  a  i-inch  circulation  pipe 
I  returning  to  the  3-inch  drum  Y,  which  discharges 
continuously  iato  the  boiler  through  2-inch  pipe  J, 
whose  outlet  is  connected  by  a  Y  (marked  L)  with 
the  feed  pipe  K,  so  that  the  discharge  of  the  latter 
may  cause  a  suction  promoting  the  return  circulation. 
The  drum  Z  is  provided  with  two  air  chambars  L  L, 
4  inches  in  diameter  and  filled  with  rubber  balls, 
which  are  said  to  satisfactorily  absorb  the  shocks  of 
a  water  hammer  in  the  risers. 


PLUMBING  IN  THE  HOLLAND  HOUSE, 
NEW  YORK. 

(PUBLISHED  IN   1891  ) 

PART    I. — SUCTION     TANK,     FILTERS,     PUMPS,     AND     PUMP 
GOVERNORS. 

THE  Holland  House  is  an  n-story  marble  hotel  at 
Fifth  Avenue  and  Thirtieth  Street,  New  York  City. 


The  architects  are  G.  E.  Harding  &  Gooch,  and  the 
plumbers,  James  Muir,  Sons  &  Co.,  both  of  New 
York.  The  plumbing-work  is  extensive  and  hand- 
some; opportunity  having  been  given  to  design  and 
execute  to  the  best  advantage  the  complete  supply, 
waste,  and  vent  system,  which  includes  the  fixtures 
and  provisions  usual  in  such  recent  work  in  this 
metropolis.  Standard  details,  methods,  etc.,  have 
been  adopted,  and  although  care  and  skill  have  been 
exercised  throughout,  our  description  will  consider 
only  some  features  of  the  design  and  operation  of  the 
general  hot  and  cold-water  supply.  Other  character- 
istics of  the  work  follow  more  or  less  closely  the  illus- 
trations of  methods  and  details  which  have  appeared 
from  time  to  time  in  THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD. 

Water  is  taken  from  the  street  mains  by  a  4-inch 
pipe  A,  Fig.  i,  and  passing  through  the  meter  B  and 
pipe  E  is  delivered  through  branch  C  to  the  distribu- 
tion pipe  D,  and  through  its  branches  at  F  F  F  F  to 
the  two  filters  G  G.  The  filtered  water  then  returns 
through  pipes  H  H,  etc.,  to  header  I,  and  thence 
through  a  3-inch  branch  J  to  pipe  K,  which  fills  the 
main  suction  tank  through  ball  cocks  on  the  i>^-inch 
branches  L  L  L  L.  M  is  a  i-inch  supply  to  em- 
ployees' basement  toilet-room,  and  N  is  i^-inch  sup- 
ply direct  to  the  boilers.  O  is  a  i^-inch  waste  pipe 
to  empty  pipe  D  into  the  drip  sink  P.  Each  filter 
has  two  valves  R  R,  and  two  valves  S  S,  command- 
ing its  four  connection  pipes  H  H  and  F  F  respect- 
ively. These  gate  valves  are  connected  by  links 
(omitted  here  to  avoid  confusion),  which  are  arranged 
to  command  them  all  by  a  single  handle  which  oper- 
ates them  simultaneously,  closing  all  or  opening  all 
at  once.  Ordinarily,  valves  Q,  T,  U,  and  U  are 


PLUMBING   IN  THE  HOLLAND   HOUSE,    NEW   YORK. 


M 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


closed  and  all  others  are  open,  but  to  wash  out  the 
filter  these  valves  are  opened  and  V  V  and  X  are 
closed.  Unfilterea  water  is  then  supplied  from  pipe 
E,  through  by-pass  pipe  W  W  and  pipe  J  to  the 
header  I,  and  entering  the  filters  through  connections 
H  H  H  H  escapes  to  header  D  through  connections 
F  F  F  F,  and  is  discharged  through  waste  pipe  O. 
If  it  is  only  desired  to  wash  one  filter  at  once  while 
the  other  is  in  use,  valves  Q  T  and  X  are  left  as  usual, 
and  the  valves  V  and  U  belonging  to  this  filter  being 
respectively  closed  and  opened,  the  flow  of  water  will 
be  reversed  in  it  and  it  will  be  washed  as  before  de- 
scribed, only  filtered  water  will  be  used.  Y  Y  are 
separate  supplies  to  the  elevator  tanks  and  hot-water 
boilers,  and  Z  Z  Z  Z,  etc.  are  drip  pipes. 

In  Fig.  2,  A  is  the  open  suction  tank  about  io'x25'x3' 
deep,  supported  at  the  ceiling  of  the  corridor  by  the 
6  inch  rolled  iron  beams  B  B,  etc.  It  is  filled  through 
four  ball  cocks  on  branches  L  L,  etc.  of  3-inch  pipe 
K  (see  also  Fig.  i),  and  overflows  through  the  4-inch 
pipe  C;  D  is  a  ^-inch  telltale,  and  E  is  the  6-inch 
suction  pipe  to  the  two  Worthington  pumps  F  F  for 
the  house  service.  They  deliver  through  the  s-inch 
pipe  G  to  the  roof  tanks,  about  140  feet  above  them, 
and  have  a  capacity  of  about  500.000  gallons  in  10 
hours.  H  H  are  hose  cocks  and  I  is  a  pipe  to  the 
boiler-room.  J  J  are  steam  pipes,  K  K  and  L  L  are 
patent  valve  regulators,  which  automatically  cut  off 
steam  from  the  pumps  when  the  tanks  are  full.  O  is 
the  usual  hand  throttle  valve.  P  is  a  ^-inch  telltale 
from  the  roof  tanks.  When  they  are  nearly  full  water 
escapes  through  P  and  the  partly  closed  valve  Q,  and 
producing  a  pressure  in  branches  J  J  forces  down  the 


piston  in  the  cylinder  M,  so  ihat  its  rod  R  closes  the 
steam  valve  in  S. 

PART  II. — ROOF  TANK  CONNECTIONS,  SUPPORT  AND  PRO- 
TECTION. 

FIGURE  3  is  an  isometric  general  view  of  the  twin 
6o,ooo-gallon  roof  tanks  T  T,  with  the  tank-house  and 
all  pipe  connections  removed  for  clearness.  Figure  4 
is  a  plan  ot  the  tanks  and  tank  girders,  and  Fig.  5  is 
an  elevation  at  Z  Z,  Fig.  4.  The  tanks  are  made  of 
T\-inch  tank  steel, single-riveted, on  frames  of  2"x2*xTBI" 
angle  iron,  about  24'xio'x6'  deep.  Each  tank  has  two 
longitudinal  tie-rods  and  two  sets  of  eight  transverse 
tie-rods,  all  one-half  inch  in  diameter,  and  hooked  into 
angle  clips.  The  tanks  stand  on  five  rolled-iron  I 
beams  12  inches  high,  which  are  framed  into  similar 
longitudinal  girders  B  B,  resting  on  wooden  cushion 
sills  C  C,  laid  on  the  main  outer  wall  W,  and  on  spe- 
cial bearing  wall  V.  Beams  A  A,  etc.  are  connected 
by  32  small  crossbeams  D  D,  etc.,  which  may  have 
been  designed  to  support  wooden  cushion  pieces  on 
their  top  flanges,  or  a  mass  of  concrete  bedding  to 
afford  support  for  the  bottom  of  the  tanks  through- 
out. Light  vertical  angle  and  beam  posts  E  E,  etc. 
are  riveted  to  the  beams  A  aud  B,  to  support  the 
roof  and  side  frames,  which  are  covered  with  corru- 
gated iron,  and  all  connected  by  angle  iron.  This 
covering,  built  after  the  tanks  were  finished  and  con- 
nected, is  thought  to  be  sufficient,  together  with  the 
frequent  fluctuations  of  its  level,  to  prevent  the  water 
in  them  from  freezing,  but  the  position  is  very  much 
exposed,  and  a  steam  radiator  will  be  put  in  the  house 
if  necessary. 


Jtetai/  qf-Z, 


PLUMBING   IN   THE  HOLLAND   HOUSE,    NEW  YORK. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


Figure  6  is  a  view  with  tho  supporting  beams, floor, 
ind  house  removed,  so  as  to  show  the  pipe  connec- 
tions clearly.  G  is  the  4  inch  delivery  from  pumps. 
H  the  4-inch  house  supply,  and  I  the  4-inch  fire  line. 
K  is  a  i  j^-inch  supply  to  the  hot-water  boilers.  L  is 
ai^-inch  supply  to  the  main  toilet-room.  M  is  a 
i^-inch  supply  to  the  kitchen,  and  N  isai^-inch 
supply  to  the  laundry.  O  is  a  2^-inch  telltale  and 
pressure  pipe  to  the  pump  governors.  The  horizon- 
tal offsets  in  the  small  service  pipes  were  necessi- 
tated to  avoid  the  obstructions  caused  by  beams  A  A, 
E  E,  etc..  Figs.  3,  4,  and  5.  P  P  are  3-inch  overflow 
stand-pipes  discharging  directly  to  the  roof  gutter. 
V  V,  etc  are  3^-inch  vent  pipes  to  facilitate  the 
»mptying  of  the  risers  when  the  upper  valves  are 
:losed.  It  will  be  noticed  that  the  valves  are  arranged 
;o  as  to  permit  any  service  pipe  to  be  connected  or 
iisconnected  with  either  or  both  tanks. 


PART  III  — HOT-WATER  BOILERS,  FLUSHING  AND  VENT- 
ILATION OF  URINALS  AND  ARRANGEMENT  OF  SOIL 
AND  VENT  LINES. 

FIGURE  7  is  a  view  of  the  basement  battery  of  three 
hot-water  boilers  A  A  A,  each  of  which  is  about  4 
feet  diameter  by  10  feet  long.  B  is  a  live  and  C  an 
exhaust  pipe,  from  either  of  which  each  boiler  can 
receive  steam  through  its  branch  D,  which  connects 
with  a  2oo-foot  interior  coil  of  i^-inch  brass  pipe, 
whose  drip, "  etc.  discharge  through  branches  E  E  E. 
and  return  main  F.  Cold  water  under  street  and 
tank  pressure  respectively  is  supplied  through  2- 
inch  pipe  G  and  4-inch  pipe  H,  and  the  i^-incb. 
branches  I  and  2-inch  branches  ].  Hot  water  is  de- 
livered at  M  M  M,  and  is  admitted  to  the  4-inch  tank 
pressure  main  K,  or  the  2  inch  street  pressure  main 
L,  according  to  whether  that  boiler  is  supplied  with 


PLUMBING  IN   THE   HOLLAND   HOUSE,    NEW  YORK. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


cold,  street  or  tank  water.  N  is  a  2-incb  circulation 
pipe,  with  i  >^-inch  branches  O  O  O  to  each  boiler. 
P  P  P  are  safety  valves,  and  Q  Q  Q  are  check  valves, 
closing  with  a  current  away  from  the  boiler,  so  as  to 
prevent  possible  escape  of  tank  water  into  the  street 
mains.  R  is  an  emptying:  pipe  from  rising  lines  to 
the  sewer. 

In  the  public  toilet-room  a  group  of  five  urinals 
automatically  flushed  by  one  cistern,  arranged  as 
shown  in  Fig.  8,  the  header  B  being  designed  to 
have  a  capacity  in  excess  of  the  combined  draft  of 
all  the  branches  B  B,  etc.  to  each  bowl.  A  grated 
floor  drainer  S  is  set  under  every  urinal  and  its  vent- 
ilation, together  with  that  of  the  trap  and  the  bowl, 


is  shown  in  Fig.  9,  where  full  arrows  indicate  the  di- 
rections of  air  currents  and  dotted  arrows  indicate 
that  of  the  waste.  Galvanized-iron  duct  V  connects 
with  a  vertical  conduit  extending  through  a  light 
shaft  to  above  the  roof,  and  containing  at  the  bottom 
32  gas  flames  to  promote  the  circulation.  Figure  10 
shows  the  arrangement  of  all  the  hot  and  cold-water 
risers  which  supply  the  different  lines  of  fixtures 
throughout  the  house.  Immediately  above  the  dis- 
tribution main  C  an  air  chamber  D  is  branched  off 
from  the  riser  A,  which  is  continued  above  the  supply 
B,  of  the  highest  story,  to  form  a  second  air  chamber 
E.  Beside  this  an  air  chamber  is  provided  at  every 
fixture.  F  F  are  petcocks. 


Ji 


-I 


PLUMBING  IN  THE  HOLLAND   HOUSE.   NEW   YORK 


AMERICAN   PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


PLUMBING  DETAILS  IN  THE  PLAZA  HOTEL, 
NEW  YORK. 

(PUBLISHED   IN   1891.) 

PART    I. — STEAM     PUMP   CONNECTIONS,    AUTOMATIC   PUMP 
REGULATOR  AND  SUCTION  TANK. 

IN  designing  and  executing  the  plumbing  in  the 
Plaza  Hotel  it  was  necessary  to  conform  to  the  plans 
and  conditions  of  the  building,  and  to  meet  the 
requirements  of  the  successive  changes  in  construc- 
tion and  system  that  accompanied  the  changes  made 
in  its  owners,  architects,  builders,  and  contractors. 
William  Paul  Gerhard,  C.  E.,  of  New  York  City,  was 
consulting  engineer  for  the  drainage  and  ventilation, 
and  S.  &  A.  Clark,  also  of  New  York,  were  the  con- 
tractors for  the  plumbing,  various  detached  features 
of  which  are  illustrated  in  this  and  succeeding 
parts. 

The  water  supply  for  the  hotel  is  received' from  the 
city  mains,  passes  through  Worthington  meters,  and 
is  delivered  through  3-inch  pipes  A  and  B  from  the 
Fifty-ninth  Street  and  the  Fifth  Avenue  mains  re- 
spectively. These  pipes  deliver  through  branches 


may  be  supplied  from  the  main  A  directly  through 
branch  G.  The  pumps  are  also  similarly  connected 
with  pipe  B. 

Figure  2  shows  the  connections  of  the  pump  suc- 
tion and  delivery  pipes.  A  A  are  two  Worthington 
pumps,  whose  suction  pipes  B  B  are  connected  with 
the  6-inch  header  D,  which  may  be  supplied  from  any 
or  all  of  the  branches,  E,  F,  and  G.  E  is  a  6-inch 
pipe  to  suction  tank  D,  Fig.  i.  P  is  a  3-inch  pipe  to 
the  cistern  which  receives  the  rainwater  from  the 
roofs,  etc.,  and  G  is  a  6-inch  pipe  connected  direct  to 
the  city  mains.  The  pump-delivery  pipes  C  C  are 
connected  to  the  4-inch  headers  H  H,  which  have  the 
branches  N  N,  etc  ,  with  valves  L  L,  etc. ,  so  arranged 
that  either  or  both  pumps  can  deliver  through  anyone 
or  more  of  the  pipes  O,  P,  Q,  R,  and  S,  four  of  which 
lead  to  the  different  roof  tanks,  and  one  to  the  eleva- 
tor tank.  All  the  pipes  are  jacketed  to  prevent  the 
condensation  of  moisture  on  their  surfaces. 

Figure  3  shows  the  pipe  A  supplying  steam  to  the 
pumping  engine  cylinders  B  B.  When  the  tank  is 
full  its  supply  pipe  is  closed  and  the  action  of  the 
pump  develops  pressure  in  it.  This  pressure  operating 


PLUMBING  IN   THE   PLAZA   HOTEL,    NEW   YORK   CITY. 


C  C  and  double  ball  cocks  into  the  boiler-plate  tank 
D,  which  rests  on  the  basement  floor  and  affords 
some  storage  in  case  the  city  mains  are  shut  off,  be- 
sides preventing  a  draft  on  the  meters. 

E  is  a  6-inch  suction  pipe  connected  to  all  the 
pumps,  and  F  is  a  2-inch  emptying  pipe;  J  is  a  4-inch 
overflow  pipe  which  empties  freely  into  the  bell- 
mouthed  pipe  I .  The  latter  is  trapped  into  the  sewer. 
The  top  of  pipe  J  has  a  hinged  flap  plate  K,  to  which 
a  heavy  ball  float  L  is  connected  by  a  long  arm. 
When  the  water  in  the  tank  is  below  the  overflow 
level  this  float  acts  as  a  weight  to  hold  the  cover 
down,  tightly  closed,  and  to  prevent  any  discharge 
of  gas,  cellar  air,  etc.  above  the  water.  When  the 
tank  is  nearly  full  of  water  the  ball  L  acts  as  a  buoy 
to  open  the  flap  and  permit  overflow  through  J.  Ordi- 
narily the  valve  H  is  open,  and  all  the  street  water 
is  first  received  in  ta.nk  D,  but  by  closing  H  the  pumps 


on  the  diaphragm  of  a  pump  regulator,  produces  a 
pull  on  chain  C  which  raises  the  weighted  lever  D  and 
closes  valve  E,  thereby  shutting  off  the  steam  and 
stopping  the  engine.  When  the  water  level  is  lowered 
in  the  tank  the  weight  of  W  opens  valve  E,  and  the 
pump  starts  up  and  so  on.  F  is  a  throttle  valve  for 
independently  controlling  the  steam. 

PART  II. — ROOF  TANK  AND  HOT-WATER  TANKS. 

FIGURE  4  is  a  view  of  one  of  the  four  roof  tanks 
which,  with  a  united  capacity  of  about  60,000  gallons, 
store  the  house  water  supply.  The  tanks  are  built  of 
angle  and  plate  iron,  and  are  supported  about  3  feet 
above  the  floor  on  broad  wooden  frames  A  A,  which, 
rest  on  the  tops  of  the  iron  floor  beams.  K  K  K  are 
6-inch  iron  beams  under  the  tank.  They  are  tied 
together  by  the  ^  inch  rods  L  L. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


B  is  the  2-inch  pump  delivery  pipe,  through  which 
the  supply  is  automatically  controlled. 

D  is  the  2-inch  pipe  which  serves  both  for  the  house- 
supply  riser  and  the  pump-delivery  riser.  It  is  con- 
nected to  the  tank  by  branch  C,  in  which  a  check 
valve,  not  here  shown,  permits  the  flow  of  water  from 
the  tank,  but  prevents  any  flow  into  it. 

E  is  a  branch  to  a  cock  F,  for  a  roof  supply,  and  G 
is  an  air  chamber.  H  is  2-inch  emptying  pipe,  and 
I  is  the  3-inch  overflow  discharging  on  the  roof.  The 
tanks  are  covered  by  galvanized-iron  houses,  just 
large  enough  to  inclose  them,  and  containing  steam 
coils  on  two  sides  of  the  tanks  to  protect  them  from 
freezing. 

Figure  5  is  a  view  of  the  rear  end  of  the  hot-water 
tanks.  A  and  B  are  3 -inch  supplies  from  Fifty-ninth 
Street  and  Fifth  Avenue  respectively.  They  are 
connected  to  the  header  C,  and  have  valves  arranged 
so  that  either  or  both  A  or  B  can  supply  either  or 
both  tanks.  D  D  D  D  are  the  tank  connection  pipes, 
made  2  inches  in  diameter,  for  convenience  of  tap- 
ping into  the  tanks,  and  put  on  in  pairs  to  secure 


s-o 


ately  or  together  by  operating  the  valves  F  and  G. 
The  drum  is  supplied  by  the  branches  H  H,  etc. 
These  were  made  2  inches  in  diameter  for  conven- 
ience in  coupling  up,  and  four  of  them  were  used  to 
secure  ample  area  of  cross-section. 

I  is  an  independent  2-inch  supply  to  the  basement 
water-closets;  K  K,  etc.  are  ij^-inch  supplies  to  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  house;  L  is  an  emptying  pipe,  and 
M  is  a  hose  cock;  N  N  are  i  inch  drip  pipes  for  empty- 
ing the  rising  lines;  O  is  a  i-inch  safe  waste  pipe,  and 
P  is  a  i  y2  inch  refrigerator  waste  pipe. 

Figure  7  is  a  view  of  another  cold-water  distribu- 
tion drum  A,  adjacent  to  the  hot-water  tanks  M  M, 
Fig.  5.  It  receives  its  supply  through  the  3-inch 
mains  G  and  H.  These  mains  are  connected  to  the 
24-inch  by  5-foot  galvanized  steel  drum  A  by  four 
branches  B  B  B  B,  made  of  2-inch  pipe  for  conven- 
ience of  connecting 

D  D,  etc.,  are  i}£-inch  supplies  to  different  lines  of 
washbowls  and  bathtubs;  K  is  a  continuation  of  the 
i-inch  drip  pipe  shown  in  Fig.  5,  and  empties  the  ris- 
ing lines;  F  is  an  emptying  pipe,  controlled  by  an 


PLUMBING  IN  THE  PLAZA  HOTEL,   NEW   YORK   CITY. 


equivalent  area  of  cross-section.  E  rs  the  3-inch  hot- 
water  header  connected  to  the  tanks  by  2-inch  branches 
F  F  F,  and  controlled  by  valves,  so  as  to  receive 
water  from  either  or  both  tanks.  Its  2-incti  branches 
G  and  H,  to  different  parts  of  the  house,  can  be  put 
in  communication  or  separated  by  opening  or  closing 
valve  J. 

I  is  a  i%-inch  special  hot-water  supply  direct  to  the 
kitchen;  K  is  a  j^-inch  drip  pipe  to  empty  various 
riser  lines.  Another  direct  house  supply,  not  here 
shown,  is  taken  from  the  opposite  ends  of  the  tanks. 

PART  III.  —  HOT  AND  COLD  WATER    DISTRIBUTION    DRUMS. 

FIGURE  6  shows  a  distribution  drum  A  for  the  cold- 
water  house  supply.  It  is  made  of  galvanized  steel 
and  is  about  30  inches  diameter  and  ic  feet  long.  It 
is  suspended  by  the  flat  iron  hangers  B  B,  etc.  from 
the  iron  floor  beams  above. 

C  and  D  are  3-inch  supply  mains  from  Fifty-ninth 
Street  and  Fifth  Avenue  respectively,  and  are  con- 
nected by  branch  E  so  that  they  may  be  used  separ- 


ordinary  valve  F,  with  the  handwheel  removed;  I  is 
a  2^-inch  cold  supply  to  sink  J;  K  is  a  i-inch  safe 
waste  pipe;  L  is  a  i"^-inch  refrigerator  drip;  MM, 
etc.  are  iron  hangers  supporting  the  drum  from  the 
iron  floor  beams  above. 

PART   IV. — VENTILATION    AND   FLUSHING  OF   URINALS. 

FIGURE  13  is  a  general  view  of  the  principal  gentle- 
men's toilet-room,  which  is  fitted  up  throughout 
with  Italian  veined  marble  and  nickel  plated  metal- 
work. 

Figure  14  shows  the  arrangements  for  flushing  the 
seven  urinals  by  the  three  independent  automatic 
flush  tanks  F  F  F.  That  in  the  center  has  a  special 
arrangement  to  operate  equally  for  the  three  con- 
nected urinals.  The  branches  A  A  each  receive  half 
of  the  flush  water  and  are  so  placed  that  the  distance 
D  to  pipe  B  is  only  one-half  as  great  as  the  distance 
E  to  pipe  C,  thus  offering  less  resistance  and  secur- 
ing a  greater  flow  to  B,  while  C  has  its  smaller  sup- 
ply doubled  by  the  flow  from  the  other  side. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


03 


Figure  15  shows  the  waste  and  ventilation  pipes  of 
the  same  set  of  urinals;  D  D.  etc.  are  2-inch  waste 
to  the  main  soil  pipe  A;  B  is  the  3-inch  trap  vent  pipe 
and  C  C  C  are  floor  drains  with  plated  strainer  tops ; 
E  F  and  G  are  local  vent,  screwed  iron  pipes  of  i  X- 
inch,  2-inch  and  3-inch  diameters  respectively. 
They  all  enter  the  closed  galvanized-iron  box  H,  to 
which  they  are  screwed  by  lock  nuts.  Box  H  is 
2'x2'x8",  and  contains  a  gas  flame  I,  accessible  through 
a  handhole  with  close-fitting  glass  door.  Box  H  is 
exhausted  through  a  6-inch  copper  pipe  J,  to  a  24* 
3O-inch  galvanized-iron  ventilation  stack  K,  which 
discharges  above  the  roof  and  contains  an  exhast 
steam  pipe  L  to  promote  the  circulation. 

Figure  16  shows  the  urinal  in  the  bar-room  toilet- 
room.  The  paneling  is  of  Italian  veined  marble;  ex- 
posed metal- work  is  nickel-plated  and  the  floor  of 
mosaic.  The  front  panels  are  continually  washed  by 
fine  streams  of  water  from  the  perforated  branches 
A  A,  controlled  by  the  valve  B.  Valve  C  controls 
hose  coupling  D  for  use  in  washing  down  the  floor. 
The  washbowl  in  this  room  is  provided  with  a 
special  overflow  and  emptying  valve  controlled  by 
handle  F.  By  twisting  it,  a  peg  turning  in  a  spiral 
slot  raises  stand-pipe  E  from  the  valve  seat  and 
empties  the  basin.  Releasing  the  handle  F,  the 
stand-pipe  returns  to  its  seat  and  acts  as  an  overflow. 

PART  v. — SERVANTS'  WATER-CLOSETS  AND   CELLAR, 

DRAINAGE   TANK. 

FIGURE  17  is  a  diagram  of  basement  toilet-room 
with  six  water-closets  and  one  slopsink  A.  This  is 
adjacent  to  the  laundry,  and  is  intended  for  the  ex- 
clusive use  of  the  female  employees  of  that  depart- 
ment. The  plastered  walls  have  a  hard  finish,  the 
floor  is  of  cement,  partition  slabs  are  slate,  and  the 
only  woodwork  is  in  the  half-doors  and  the  oak  seat 
boards.  The  partitions  are  raised  from  the  floor, 
as  shown  in  Fig.  18,  to  facilitate  circulation  of  light 
and  air,  and  cleaning. 

The  seat  boards  E  are  instantly  removable  by 
being  lifted  out  of  the  open  brass  hinge  sockets  D, 
which  are  bolted  to  the  partitions.  The  front  sup- 
port C  is  also  brass,  bolted  to  B. 

The  water-closet  seats  throughout  the  house  are  of 
a  similar  pattern,  though  of  more  expensive  and 
highly  polished  wood  in  the  guests'  rooms.  General 
bath  and  toilet  rooms  are  provided  in  the  servants' 
quarters  on  the  upper  floor.  The  men  servants'  gen- 
eral water-closets  are  in  two  adjacent  basement 
rooms,  intended  for  the  separate  use  of  the  white  and 
colored  employees. 

Figure  19  is  a  diagram  of  these  rooms,  which  have 
cement  floors,  plastered  walls,  slate  paneling  with 
ash  trimmings,  and  cabinet-work.  A  A,  etc.  are 
wardrobe  cupboards;  B  is  a  washstand  with  marble 
slab  and  table,  and  plated  legs  and  fixtures;  S  is  a 
slopsink,  D  is  a  dripsink  receiving  the  discharge 
from  safe  wastes,  overflows,  etc. ;  E  is  a  pair  of  steps 
to  the  raised  floor  of  the  toilet-room;  C  C,  etc.  are 
water-closets;  and  U  U  are  urinals. 

Figure  20  is  a  view  from  Z,  Fig.  19,  showing  the 
details  and  piping.  The  slate  urinal  trough  U  is 
aonstantly  washed  bv  fine  streams  of  water  from  the 


AMERICAN   PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


U-- 


PLUMBING  IN  THE   PLAZA   HOTEL,   NEW   YORK   CITY. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


perforated  pipes  H  H,  commanded  by  the  cocks  I  I, 
by  which  the  flow  can  be  regulated  at  will.  J  and  K 
are  i-inch  cold-water  supply  pipes,  the  former  ter- 
minating in  hose  cock  M  for  washing  out  the  room, 
and  the  latter  having  branches  to  afford  an  inde- 
pendent supply  to  each  of  the  automatic  flush  tanks 
L  L,  etc.  for  the  water-closets.  The  local  vent  pipes 
PP  of  these  are  connected  to  main  3-inch  vent  flue  O, 
which  opens  into  a  ventilation  flue  extending  above 
the  roof,  and  heated  by  an  exhaust  steam  riser. 

Figure  21  is  a  section,  not  to  scale,  showing  the 
construction  of  the  tank  below  the  cellar.  This  tank 
receives  the  drainage  from  the  refrigerator  engine- 


water-closets;  E  E  E,  washstands,    F  F,  bathtubs, 
and  G,  a  chambermaid's  slopsink. 

The  rooms  have  mosaic  floor,  marble  panels  and 
slabs,  and  ash  cabinet-work.  The  pipes  are  all  ex- 
posed and,  as  well  as  the  fixtures,  are  nickel-plated. 
The  soil  and  waste  pipe  branches  are  shown  by  solid 
black  lines.  H  is  a  3-inch  fire  line  with  hose  cock 
and  hose  reel;  I,  J,  K,  L,  M,  N  and  P  are  riser  lines; 
I  is  the  s-inch  soil  pipe;  J,  i^-inch  safe  waste;  K, 
4-inch  trap  vent;  L,  2-inch  cold-water  supply;  M, 
i^  inch  hot-water  supply;  N,  ^-inch  hot-water  cir- 
culation pipe;  and  P  is  4-itich  vent  pipe  for  slopsinks 
and  washbasins. 


PLUMBING   IN   THE   PLAZA   HOTEL,    NEW   YORK   CITY. 


room  and  the  laundry.  It  is  about  I2'xi2'x6'  high, 
and  is  lined  with  a  i-inch  coating  of  asphalt.  It 
overflows  through  the  6-inch  pipe  D,  and  is  accessible 
through  the  manhole  B,  with  cast-iron  cover  C. 

PART    VI. — ARRANGEMENT    AND    PIPING    OF     PUBLIC     AND 
PRIVATE    TOILET-ROOMS. 

FIGURE  22  is  a  diagram  of  the  gentlemen's  toilet  and 
bath  rooms  on  the  fourth  floor,  and  is  one  of  a  series 
of  six  similar  ones,  directly  above  one  another.  A  is 
the  main  corridor;  B,  an  entrance  to  hall;  C,  a  pipe 
and  ventilation  shaft,  and  W,  a  window;  D  D  are 


Figure  23  is  a  perspective  view  of  pipe  connections 
in  shaft  C,  Fig.  22,  and  the  same  pipes  are  designated 
by  the  same  reference  letters  as  in  that  figure.  Q  is 
a  2-inch  cast-iron  vent  pipe  to  three  washbasins  and 
one  bathtub;  R  is  a  2-inch  cast-iron  vent  pipe  to  two 
water-closets;  S  is  a  ^  inch  hot- water  supply  to  four 
washbasins  and  two  bathtubs;  T  is  a  i-inch  cold- 
water  supply  to  all  the  fixtures  shown  in  Fig.  22;  U  is 
a  i  inch  waste  pipe  from  all  the  lead  safes  under  the 
fixtures;  V  is  a  3-inch  soil  pipe  from  one  water-closet; 
and  W  is  4-inch  soil  pipe  from  one  water-closet,  four 
washbasins,  two  bathtubs,  and  one  slopsink. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


Figure  24  is  a  diagram  of  the  arrangement  of  a 
toilet-room,  designed  to  serve  two  suites  of  guest 
rooms,  which  communicate  with  it  by  doors  D  D. 
There  is  a  set  of  six  of  these  rooms  in  the  same 
vertical  line,  on  the  successive  guest  floors,  in  the 
front  of  the  house,  and  the  same  in  the  rear. 

A  is  a  washbasin;  B,  a  porcelain  bathtub;  C,  a 
water-closet;  E,  a  ventilation,  light  and  pipe  shaft; 
and  L,  a  3-inch  local  vent  pipe;  F,  G,  H,  I,  J,  and  K 
are  riser  lines,  designated  by  the  same  reference 
letters  as  in  Fig.  25,  which  is  a  diagram  of  their 
branches  to  the  toilet-room  connections.  F  is  a  2- 
inch  safe  waste  with  i-inch  branches  D  and  W. 
to  the  water-closet  and  the  bathtub  respectively;  G 
is  a  4-inch  trap  vent,  with  2-inch  branches  N,  O,  and 
T  to  the  washbasin,  water  closet  and  bathtub;  H  is 
the  6  inch  soil  pipe,  with  3-inch  branch  S  to  water- 
closet  and  washbasin,  and  2-inch  branch  X  to  the 
bathtub;  I  is  a  2-inch  cold-water  supply,  with  ^-inch 
branches  M,  R,  and  V  to  the  water-closet,  cistern, 
the  washbasin  and  bathtub;  J  is  the  hot-water 
supply  with  3^-inch  branches  O  to  the  washbasin, 
and  U  is  the  bathtub;  K  is  the  i^-inch  hot-water 
return  circulation  pipe.  In  Fig.  24  none  of  the  hori- 
zontal branches  is  shown  except  for  the  soil  pipe, 
which  is  made  solid  black.  „ 

Figure  26  shows  the  arrangement  of  one  of  a  set  of 
six  double  toilet-rooms,  which  are  in  the  same  verti- 
cal line  and  communicate,  through  doors  D  D,  with 
special  suites  of  guest  chambers  on  the  successive 
guest  floors  of  the  house. 

A  A  are  bathtubs;  B  B  are  washbasins;  and  C  C, 
water-closets;  E  is  the  light,  ventilation  and  pipe 
shaft,  about  42x36  inches  square,  and  F.  G,  H,  I,  J, 
and  K  are  the  riser  lines  which  correspond  to  those 
designated  by  the  same  reference  letters  in  Fig.  27. 
The  latter  shows  their  connections  for  the  branches 
serving  this  floor. 

The  soil-pipe  branches  N  N,  to  the  bathtubs,  only, 
are  shown  by  solid  black  lines. 

F  is  a  5-inch  soil  pipe,  with  4-inch  branches  L  L 
to  the  water-closets,  2-inch  branches  M  M  to  the 
washbasin,  and  2  inch  branches  N  N  to  the  bath- 
tubs; Z  Z  are  cleaning-out  screens;  G  is  the  4  inch 
trap  vent  pipe  with  2-inch  branches,  O  to  one  bath- 
tub and  washbasin,  P  to  one  bathtub,  Q  to  one 
basin,  and  R  R  to  one  water-closet  each;  H  is  a  i^- 
inch  safe  waste  pipe  with  i-inch  branches  S  S,  to  one 
water-closet  safe  each,  and  T  to  two  bathtub  safes. 

I  is  the  i^-inch  cold  water  supply,  with  i  ^-inch 
branches  U  U,  to  the  bathtubs,  5^-inch  branches 
V  V  to  the  washbasins,  and  ^-inch  branches  W  W 
to  the  water-closet  cisterns,  in  the  toilet-room  next 
below  the  one  shown  in  Fig.  26;  J  is  the  i^-inch  hot- 
water  supply,  with  i-inch  branches  X  X  to  the  bath- 
tubs, and  >^-inch  branches  Y  Y  to  the  washbasins;  K 
is  the  i^-inch  hot- water  return  circulation  pipe. 

The  private  toilet-rooms  attached  to  the  guest  suites 
are  all  paved  with  mosaic  tiles,  have  marble  paneling, 
porcelain  bathtubs,  and  polished  natural  wood  cabinet- 
work. All  pipes  are  exposed  and  nickel-plated. 
Throughout  the  house  all  pipes  are  exposed,  access!- 
ble;  and  all  waste  and  soil  pipes  are  provided  with 
numerous  scrub  holes  for  cleaning.  The  pipes  are  of 


extra  heavy  cast  iron,  and  were  tested  by  water  press- 
ure after  the  joints  were  calked. 

Special  care  was  taken  in  arranging  the  trap  vent 
pipes  to  carry  the  horizontal  branches  always  well 
above  the  fixtures  so  as  to  prevent  possibility  of  their 
acting  as  an  overflow. 

There  are  in  the  house  a  total  of  about  200  water- 
closets,  200  washbasins,  150  bathtubs,  20  slopsinks, 
20  iron  sinks,  and  15  urinals  Jeremiah  Delaney  was 
the  foreman  plumber  in  charge  of  the  work. 


PLUMBING  IN  THE  NEW  NETHERLAND 
HOTEL. 

(PUBLISHED  IN  1803.) 

PART  I. — GENERAL  DESCRIPTION,  PLANS  AND  ELEVATION 
OF  DRAINAGE  SYSTEM,  PRESSURE  TEST  AND  DETAILS 
OF  HANGERS  AND  FRESH  AIR  INLETS. 

A  NOTABLE  addition  to  the  hotel  accommodations 
of  New  York  City  was  made  in  the  construction  of 
the  New  Netherland  on  the  northeast  corner  or 
Fifty-ninth  Street  and  Fifth  Avenue,  with  its  main 
entrance  on  Fifth  Avenue  opposite  the  "Scholars 
Gate  "  entrance  to  Central  Park.  The  structure, 
which  was  constructed  according  to  the  plans  of 
William  H.  Hume,  of  New  York  City,  architect,  is  of 
iron,  stone,  and  brick.  It  has  125  feet  frontage  on 
Fifty-ninth  Street  and  100  feet  on  Fifth  Avenue.  It 
is  17  stories  high,  four  stories  being  in  the  mansard 
roof.  The  first  or  main  story  is  16  feet  high,  the 
others  varying  from  12  feet  to  9  feet  6  inches.  The 
seventeenth-story  floor  is  210  feet  above  the  sidewalk. 
There  is  also  a  basement  and  cellar  below  grade, 
each  ii  feet  in  the  clear. 

The  plumbing,  including  gas  and  water  piping  and 
house  drainage,  has  been  done  by  Macdonald  &  Co., 
of  New  York  City.  The  sectional  elevation,  Fig.  i, 
is  a  general  diagram  of  the  arrangement  of  four  of 
the  19  lines  of  risers  which  serve  the  different  vertical 
groups  of  bath  and  toilet  rooms,  only  the  drainage 
stacks  being  here  shown,  soil  pipes  A  being  indicated 
by  heavy  full  black  lines,  basin  wastes  B  by  lighter 
black  lines,  and  the  main  stacks  of  trap  vent  pipes  C 
by  double  light  lines,  their  branches  to  the  fixtures 
being  shown  by  broken  lines. 

There  are  14  stacks  of  5-inch  soil  pipe  A  extending 
from  the  cellar  ceiling  to  the  sixteenth  floor,  where 
they  ave  enlarged  to  6-inch,  and  then  continued  up 
through  and  above  the  roof  to  a  point  safely  isolated 
from  all  house  openings,  the  top  of  each  being 
crowned  by  a  copper  wire  hood.  There  are  also  five 
stacks  of  3-inch  basin  waste  B,  with  enlarged  upper 
end  and  of  the  same  height  and  general  character  as 
the  soil  pipes.  Each  of  those  stacks  is  composed  OL 
standard  size  wrought-iron  pipe  with  cast-iron  fit- 
tings, all  tested  and  dipped  in  hot  coal  tar  before  de- 
livery on  the  ground.  All  joints  are  screwed  and 
internal  burrs  removed.  Face  joints  are  metallic 
only.  All  fittings  have  recessed  threads  giving  a 
practically  smooth  bore  to  the  entire  drainage  sys- 
tem; in  order  to  prevent  the  lodgment  of  insoluble 
matter  on  or  against  shoulder  burrs,  etc.  The  con- 
nections at  each  floor  are  by  45  degree  bends,  and 


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AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


101 


the  pipes  are  securely  fastened  to  the  floor  beams,  or 
were  anchored  in  recesses  in  the  walls  as  they  were 
built  up.  Each  stack  of  soil  or  waste  pipes  has  a 
corresponding  air  vent  pipe  C  of  same  quality,  diam- 
eter, height,  and  workmanship.  From  these  vent 
pipes  branches  are  taken  off  at  points  sufficiently 
high  to  guard  against  a  possible  inflow  from  the  fix- 
ture wastes,  if  from  any  cause  these  should  become 
stopped,  and  are  designed  to  afford  ample  protection 
from  syphonage  of  traps. 

The  soil  and  waste  pipes  connect  just  below  the 
cellar  ceiling  with  the  horizontal  house  drains  of  the 
same  size  and  quality,  which  are  nung  from  the  cel- 
lar ceiling  and  shown  in  Fig.  2.  They  have  a  fall  of 
not  less  than  one-quarter  of  an  inch  to  a  foot,  and  in- 
crease in  size  as  the  service  requires.  The  closets, 
sinks,  etc.  in  the  cellar  are  raised  sufficiently  to  give 
a  clear  drainage  into  the  house  drain  before  it  passes 
to  the  outside  of  the  wall.  The  hangers  used  were 
specially  made  for  this  job.  and  are  shown  in  Fig. 
4.  They  are  made  of  malleable  cast  iron.  The 
saddle  piece  is  tapped  for  iron  pipe  threads  to 
suit  the  size  of  pipe  carried,  the  clamp  piece  being 
held  up  by  tap  bolts.  On  account  of  the  power  plant 
and  other  apparatus  in  the  cellar,  direct  lines  could 
not  in  all  cases  be  located  for  the  house  drains  from 
the  foot  of  risers  to  the  point  of  exit  or  main 
drains,  but  they  were  run  as  directly  as  the  condition 
would  permit.  The  junctions  of  two  lines  are  invari- 
ably effected  by  a  45 -degree  connection  or  a  long  go- 
degree  bend,  as  shown  in  Fig.  i.  The  same  general 
practice  is  followed  in  laying  the  horizontal  pipe  as 
holds  with  the  uprights;  there  are  no  deadends,  and 
ample  arrangements  are  made  for  cleanouts  by  the 
full-sized  screwed  brass  plugs  Y.  No  short  90- degree 
bends  are  used  on  any  of  the  lines.  For  convenience 
of  changes  or  repairs,  a  specially  designed  stepped- 
faced  union  was  used,  which  dispenses  with  the  use 
of  gaskets  or  other  packing,  which  might  in  time  be- 
come porous  or  offensive. 

When  the  stacks  had  been  erected  to  the  ninth 
floor,  it  became  necessary  to  facilitate  the  work  to 
inclose  some  of  them  in  the  fireproof  partition  and 
to  cover  up  much  of  the  work  in  the  fireproof  arches 
so  that  floors  could  be  laid  An  air  test  was  there- 
fore made  then,  to  the  end  that  all  joints  should  be 
proved  perfectly  tight  before  inclosure,  as  small 
leaks,  which  may  occur  in  the  most  carefully  executed 
work,  would  prove  very  troublesome  and  costly  to 
repair  after  they  had  become  inaccessible.  This 
test  was  made  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  building 
inspectors. 

At  such  points  as  were  necessary  in  the  suspended 
house  drainage,  45-degree  entrances  T,  Fig.  2,  were 
allowed  for  caring  for  the  closet,  urinal,  basin,  and 
kitchen  service  on  the  basement  floor.  The  outflow 
of  sewage  was  through  one  6-inch  and  one  8-inch  line 
on  Fifty-ninth  Street,  and  one  6-inch  and  one  8-inch 
line  on  Fifth  Avenue,  all  marked  U,  as  shown  on 
Fig.  2.  Each  line  had  a  deep-seal  running  trap  V 
with  cleanout  close  to  the  inside  wall  line,  on  the 
house  line  of  which  there  were  4-inch  and  s-inch  fresh- 
air  inlets  W  connecting  by  wrought-iron  pipes  X  to 
fresh- air  gratings  at  the  curb  line  of  the  sidewalks, 


as  shown  in  Fig.  5.  The  cast-iron  box  a  being 
io"xi8"xg",  a  hole  on  one  side  allowed  the  connecting 
of  the  4  or  s-inch  pipe  X,  which  is  fastened  by  the 
two  locknuts  b  b.  These  connections  are  close  to  the 
bottoms  of  the  boxes,  so  that  by  flushing  them  oc- 
casionally they  are  kept  clear  of  dirt.  The  brass 
grating  c  is  flush  on  top,  and  by  allowing  the  entrance 
of  storm  or  other  waters,  helps  to  keep  them  clear. 

From  the  running  traps  V,  Fig.  2,  extra  heavy 
cast-iron  pipes  of  the  same  size  with  leaded  joints 
were  laid  to  the  city  sewers.  Those  pipes  were 
tested  to  20  pounds  pressure  to  the  square  inch,  and 
were  dipped  in  hot  coal  tar  before  being  laid.  The 
rainwater  leaders  enter  the  house-drainage  system 
in  the  cellar  through  the  deep-seal  cast-iron  running 
traps  Z.  The  surface  drainage  of  the  cellar  is  into  a 
4x6-foot  cement-lined  brick  cesspool  beneath  the  cel- 
lar floor,  and  from  there  is  automatically  pumped 
into  the  house-drainage  system. 

When  all  necessary  connections  were  made,  every 
opening  was  closed  and  the  entire  system  of  sewer, 
drain,  soil,  waste,  and  air  vent  pipes  was  united  by  a 
communicating  temporary  pipe,  so  that  air  could  be 
pumped  into  them,  and  an  equal  pressure  be  gotten 
at  all  points  from  one  pumping  station.  A  large  size 
gas  force  pump  was  used  for  the  purpose  and  a 
mercury  column  showing  25  inches  of  mercury 
recorded  the  pressure.  The  test  was  made  in  the 
presence  of  the  representative  of  the  Board  of 
Health  and  the  architects.  When  an  air  pressure  of 
25  inches  of  mercury  was  attained  the  pump  was 
shut  off 

For  three  hours  there  was  no  perceptible  loss  of 
pressure  and  the  test  was  therefore  declared  to  be 
satisfactory.  Such  a  severe  test  as  this  and  its  result 
is  a  standing  testimonial  to  the  workmanship  of 
those  actually  engaged  upon  the  work. 

PART   II  — GENERAL    SYSTEMS    OF    WATER   DISTRIBUTION, 
DIAGRAM   OF   VERTICAL   LINES. 

ON  account  of  the  great  height  of  this  hotel,  and  in 
order  to  secure  a  more  equable  delivery  to  the 
several  floors,  it  was  decided  to  have  three  separate 
systems  of  water  supply  and  distribution,  the  lower 
one  to  supply  the  cellar,  basement,  and  first  floor, 
the  intermediate  one  supplying  from  the  second  to 
the  eighth  stories  inclusive,  and  the  upper  one 
beginning  at  the  ninth  story  and  supplying  all  above. 
There  are  two  4  inch  Croton  water-service  pipes, 
each  delivering  only  through  a  Worthington  meter. 
One  of  them  directly  supplies  the  water  which  is 
used  in  the  lower  system;  the  other  discharges 
through  ball  cocks  into  a  s.ooo-gallon  iron  storage 
tank  in  the  cellar.  From  this  tank  water  is  pumped 
to  the  tanks  of  the  intermediate  and  upper  systems. 
All  of  the  water  used  in  the  building  is  filtered  in  the 
cellar  before  entering  the  storage  tank.  The  entire 
storage  capacity  of  the  roof,  intermediate  and  cellar 
tanks  is  over  32,000  gallons.  Each  tank  has  over- 
flows, wastes,  recording  gauges  and  independent 
shut-offs  on  discharges.  The  cold-water  storage 
supply  for  the  intermediate  system  is  for  convenience 
of  arrangement  and  economy  of  space  distributed  in 
two  open  tanks  on  the  ninth  and  tenth  floors.  The 


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103 


tanks  are  of  quarter-inch  riveted  wrought  iron. 
Each  holds  2, 500 gallons,  and  is  set  in  a  special  closet. 

Three  quarter-inch  riveted  and  stayed  wrought- 
iron  tanks  on  the  roof  store  about  22,000  gallons  of 
water,  and  furnish  a  pressure  head  for  the  upper 
system.  They  are  protected  from  the  weather  by 
two  iron  and  brick  houses,  which  have  steam  radia- 
tors to  prevent  freezing  in  winter.  Each  of  the  three 
pressure  systems  has  a  separate  hot-water  supply 
from  its  own  boiler.  These  boilers  are  substantially 
alike  and  are  located  in  the  cellar.  Each  is  a  hori- 
zontal cylindrical  steel  tank  of  550  gallons  capacity, 
supplied  with  a  brass  steam  coil  which  can  be  operated 
with  either  live  or  exhaust  steam  at  will,  though  the 
former  is  not  intended  to  be  used  when  the  supply  of 
the  latter  is  sufficient.  The  water  is  pumped  into 
intermediate  and  roof  storage  tanks  by  two  pumps, 
one  for  each  system,  has  steam  on  constantly  for  fire 
service,  and  these  pumps,  together  with  a  boiler  feed 
pump,  are  interchangeably  connected,  so  that  all  can 
work  together,  or  any  one  can  be  cut  out  and  its  duty 
performed  by  any  one  or  all  of  the  rest. 

Figure  3  is  a  diagram  not  drawn  to  scale  or  exact 
location  and  detail,  but  prepared  to  present  clearly 
the  relative  position,  connections  and  operations  of 
the  three  systems  and  show  their  characteristic 
features.  In  it  the  filters,  one  of  the  roof  tanks  and 
the  hot-water  heater  for  the  basement  system  are 
omitted  to  avoid  confusion.  Pressure  gauges  are 
shown  as  open  circles  and  some  principal  valves  are 
conventionally  indicated  by  small  open  circles.  The 
intermediate  tanks  are  filled  by  the  cellar  pump 
through  its  delivery  pipe  L,  which  has  branches  to 
each  tank  and  fills  the  lower  one  first.  The  roof 
tanks  are  filled  by  pump  pipe  M,  delivering  through 
separate  branches,  and  they  are  connected  by  open 
equalizing  pipes.  The  distribution  of  cold  water  in 
the  upper  system  is  made  by  horizontal  pipes  on  the 
seventeenth-story  ceiling  and  that  of  cold  water  for 
the  lower  and  hot  water  for  all  three  systems  is  made 
by  horizontal  pipes  on  the  cellar  ceiling.  Vent  pipes 
are  carried  from  the  summits  of  each  of  the  hot-water 
risers  and  open  freely  with  return  bends  above  their 
respective  pressure  tanks.  The  reference  letters  in 
Fig.  3  have  the  following  significance:  S,  fire  sys- 
tem; R,  safe  wastes  from  fixtures;  e  e,  etc.,  ball 
cocks;  y"y,  tank  overflows;  g  g,  save  all  pans  under 
tanks;  //  />,  safe  wastes  from  tank  pans;  j  j,  emptying 
pipes  for  hot,  cold,  and  circulation  lines;  k  k,  water- 
level  gauges. 

In  the  intermediate  system:  D,  cold-wattr  risers 
to  groups  of  fixtures;  F,  hot- water  risers  to  groups  of 
fixtures;  H,  circulation  pipe  from  group  of  fixtures; 
J,  expansion  pipe  from  group  of  fixtures;  N,  tank 
cold  supply  to  hot-water  boiler;  P,  cold-water  supply 
from  tanks  to  distribution  system. 

In  the  upper  system:  E.  cold-water  risers  to 
groups  of  fixtures;  G,  hot- water  risers  to  groups  of 
fixtures;  I,  circulation  pipe  from  group  of  fixtures; 
K,  expansion  pipe  from  group  of  fixtures;  O,  tank 
cold  supply  to  hot-water  boiler;  Q,  cold-water  supply 
from  tanks  to  distribution  system. 

The  highest  point  of  every  hot-water  riser  F  or  G 
is  connected  with  the  lower  side  of  its  hot-water 


boiler  by  its  circulation  pipe  H  or  I,  and  with  the 
atmosphere  by  its  half-inch  open  vent  or  expansion 
pipe  J  or  K.  This  prevents  the  collection  of  cold 
water  at  any  point  of  the  system,  and  provides  for 
the  delivery  of  the  hottest  water  in  the  boiler  at  any 
valve  on  any  branch  immediately  on  its  opening,  in 
conformity  to  the  well-known  principles  of  pressure 
head  and  circulation.  The  first  is  provided  by  the 
tank  storage  and  gives  sufficient  uniform  levels  of 
water  throughout  the  system,  and  the  second  insures 
the  continual  ascent  of  the  hottest  water  to  the 
summit  of  the  system  and  corresponding  return  flow 
of  an  equal  volume  as  fast  as  its  specific  gravity  is 
inci  eased  by  cooling.  The  open  expansion  pipe 
taken  from  the  highest  point  of  the  loop,  prevents 
accumulation  of  air  or  steam,  which,  if  in  sufficient 
quantities,  would  interfere  with  the  circulation  in 
those  pipes,  and  its  upper  open  end  allows  all  vapors 
to  pass  over  and  into  the  tank. 

Two  vertical  4-inch  galvanized-iron  fire  mains  S  S 
are  supplied  from  the  roof  tanks  and  extend  the  full 
height  of  the  'building,  connecting  in  the  basement 
with  the  pump  system  and  providing  complete  fire 
service  by  outlets  taken  off  at  each  floor  and  con- 
trolled by  a  25-2 -inch  fire  valve,  which  is  provided 
with  50  feet  of  2^-inch  hose  and  nozzle  housed  on  a 
swinging  hose  rack.  By  the  proper  manipulation  of 
valves,  the  entire  contents  of  the  three  tanks  on  the 
roof  can  be  used  for  fire  service,  or,  at  the  will  of  the 
engineer,  the  discharge  from  the  fire  pump  in  the 
cellar  can  be  turned  directly  into  the  fire  mains  and 
used  upon  any  floor.  Each  of  the  19  sections  of 
risers  and  lines  of  fixtures  is  designated  by  a  letter 
which  identifies  every  main  pipe  therein  and  locates 
any  vertical  pipe  in  the  house,  as  soil  D,  vent  G,  in- 
termediate cold  E,  upper  hot  F,  etc.  The  save-alls 
of  each  of  the  19  sections  of  fixtures  have  an  inde- 
pendent waste.  The  lower  ends  of  all  of  them  are 
assembled  over  a  large  sink  in  view  of  the  engineer. 
Each  waste  has  a  brass  label  lettered  to  show  its 
section,  so  that  if  it  shows  a  leak  the  engineer  can 
shut  off  the  supply  valves  lettered  to  correspond  with 
this  section.  Excepting  the  valves  of  the  cold  water 
for  the  upper  system,  all  valves  are  under  his  imme- 
diate control.  To  prevent  the  passage  of  cellar  air 
or  sound  through  them,  the  ends  of  each  of  the  safe 
wastes  are  provided  with  a  hinged  flat  disk,  so  hung 
as  to  close  by  its  own  weight,  but  to  open  out  for  the 
discharge  of  leaking  water, 

All  the  water  pipes  were  made  of  galvanized 
wrought  iron,  those  for  the  upper  system  being  extra 
heavy  throughout,  although  the  specification  only  re- 
quired special  strength  below  the  ninth  floor,  where 
they  were  subjected  to  very  heavy  pressures,  reach- 
ing a  maximum  of  about  100  pounds  per  square  inch. 
The  diameters  of  risers  are-  cold  and  hot  supplies; 
iyi  inches;  return  circulation,  i  inch;  vent  or  expan- 
sion, three-quarters  inch;  and  emptying  pipes,  one- 
half  inch.  The  hot-water  risers  and  circulation  pipes 
of  the  upper  system  having  a  direct  rise  of  220  feet, 
their  expansion  was  provided  for  by  a  lateral  spring 
at  the  ninth  floor,  as  indicated  in  Fig.  3  and  shown 
in  detail  in  Fig.  6.  The  return  bends  A  and  elbows 
B  are  extra  heavy;  the  lower  section  was  hung  from 


104 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


the  crosspipe  C,  its  expansion  being  downwards  and 
allowed  for  at  the  lower  end  by  flexure  of  a  horizon- 
tal connection.  The  upper  section  was  made  fast  at 
its  center,  and  so  expanded  up  and  down  from  that 
point. 

PART   III. — WATER-HEATING    TANKS    AND    PUMP    CONNEC- 
TIONS. 

THE  water-heating  tanks  for  the  three  systems  are 
nested  as  shown  in  Fig.  7.  They  are  each  heated  by 
exhaust  steam  through  the  7-inch  pipe  A,  which  con- 
nects to  each  tank  by  the  two  3-inch  pipes  B  B  with 
stop  valves  close  to  the  tanks.  Each  of  the  pipes  B  B 
is  connected  to  the  4  inch  brass  tube  return  coil 
heater  C,  shown  through  the  broken  shell  of  tank  D, 


HORIZONTAL  LOOP  BETWEEN^  A] 
FLOOR  AND  CEILING.          '-"•' 


The  exhaust  steam  enters  at  both  ends  of  the  coil  C, 
acting  as  a  surface  condenser  and  without  circulation, 
the  waste  passing  off  to  cesspool  through  the  pipe  H 
and  the  valve  I.  Should  it  be  necessary  to  heat  the 
•water  by  live  steam,  the  valves  E  are  closed  and  the 
valves  F  on  the  live-steam  pipe  G  are  opened.  Valve 
I  is  closed  and  the  valve  J  is  opened,  allowing  the 
condensation  to  pass  to  the  trap  K  and  on  to  the 
pump  through  the  pipe  L. 

Cold  water  is  laid  on  to  the  tank  D  from  the  upper 
system  cold-water  tank,  through  the  2-inch  pipe  M, 
and  the  hot  water  for  the  same  system  leaves  the 


tank  through  the  pipe  N.  The  pipes  O  and  P  serve 
in  like  manner  the  intermediate  system  and  tank  Qt 
while  the  pipes  R  and  S  serve  lower  system  and  tank 
T.  To  guard  against  excessive  pressure  each  tank 
was  provided  with  the  safety  valves  U,  the  wastes  of 
which  empty  into  the  storage  tanks.  The  valves  V 
are  for  emptying  the  tanks. 

The  cold  water  for  the  upper  and  intermediate  sys. 
terns  is  pumped  to  the  respective  tanks  by  two  i2*x 
6'xio"  Worthington  duplex  pumps.  The  4-inch  pipe 
A,  Fig  8,  is  for  fire  service,  the  2-inch  pipe  B  is  to 
the  tanks  on  the  seventeenth  floor,  and  the  3-inch 
pipe  C  is  to  the  tanks  on  the  ninth  and  tenth  floors. 

FART  IV. — DETAILS  OF  ROOF  TANKS  AND  INTERMEDIATE 
TANKS  AND  CONNECTIONS. 

FIGURE  9  is  a  diagram  of  the  arrangement  of  the 
roof  tanks  conventionally  shown  in  Fig.  3.  They  are 
filled  through  a  3-inch  pump  pipe  M,  and  are  con- 
nected by  an  open  equalizing  pipe  A. 

Figure  10  is  a  side  elevation  of  one  of  the  tanks, 
and  Fig.  n  is  an  elevation  at  Z  Z,  Fig.  10.  The 
tanks  each  rest  on  four  12  inch  rolled  steel  beams 
D  D,  etc.,  which  are  supported  at  a  convenient 


FIQ.7 


TO  PUMP 


-•TO  C£5  SPOOL 
PLUMBING   IN  THE   NEW   NETHERLAND   HOTEL,    NEW   YORK    CITY. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


"height above  the  floor  by  I-beam  pillars  E  E,  etc., 
which  are  set  on  the  iron  floor  girders  below.  These 
pillars,  as  well  as  all  pipes  that  pass  through  the  roof, 
are  cased  with  copper  flashings  G  G,  etc.,  which  have 
horizontal  flanges  H  H,  etc.,  resting  directly  upon 
the  brickwork  and  covered  by  the  cement  surface  I  I. 
The  pipes  are  also  provided  with  sleeves  L  L  and 
bottom  escutcheons. 

The  water  supply  from  pump  main  M  is  controlled 
by  valve  B  and  received  in  stand  pipe  C.  Delivery 
is  through  pipe  O  to  the  hot-water  boiler  in  the  base- 
ment, through  N  to  the  house  service  main  for  the 
upper  system,  and  through  Q  to  the  five  mains.  At  k 
is  represented  a  J^-inch  pressure  pipe  to  the  engine- 
room  gauge.  J  is  a  vent  and  K  is  an  expansion  pipe, 
T  is  a  telltale  to  a  sink  in  the  engine-rooom.  P  P  are 
a  row  of  2^-inch  air  pipes  from  different  riser  lines. 
There  is  a  4-inch  overflow  f  emptying  on  the  roof. 
S  S  are  angle  braces  for  the  supporting  beams. 

Figure  12  shows  the  connections  of  the  two  3,500- 
gallon  tanks  on  the  ninth  and  tenth  floors  for  sup- 
plying the  intermediate  system.  Water  is  received 
through  the  2-inch  pump  pipe  L.  which  is  sleeved  to 
prevent  noise  and  splashing,  and  immediately  fills 


the  lower  tank  through  the  2-inch  pipe  d,  and  five 
i -inch  ball  cocks,  which  close  when  the  lower  tank  is 
full  and  permit  the  upper  tank  to  fill  up  to  the  level 
of  its  3-inch  overflow/'.  This  overflow  empties  into 
the  lower  tank  and  causes  it  to  overflow  through  the 
4-inch  galvanized-iron  emptying  pipe  P ;  at  the  same 
time  indicating  the  fact  by  a  discharge  of  water 
through  the  small  telltale  pipe/",  the  discharge  of 


•4-6  "Deep 

X 


>iX. 


THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD 


PLUMBING  IN  THE  NEW  NETHERLAND   HOTEL,   NEW   YORK   CITY. 


ICC 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


which  is  visible  in  a  sink  in  the  engine-room. 
is  a  pressure  pipe  to  a  gauge  in  the  engine-room 
which  indicates  the  height  of  water  in  the  upper 
tank;  h  h  are  safe  wastes.  P  is  an  emptying  pipe  to 
the  sewer.  M  is  a  3-inch  supply  to  the  cold-water 
distribution  system  in  the  cellar.  N  is  a  3-inch  sup- 
ply to  the  hot- water  boiler  of  the  intermediate  system. 
At  J  there  are  36  >^-inch  vent  pipes  from  rising  lines 
of  the  intermediate  system. 

PART  V  —DISTRIBUTION  OF  COLD  WATER  IN  THE  UPPER 
SYSTEM.  GENERAL  LOCATION  OF  BATH  AND  TOILET 
ROOMS. 

FIGURE  13  is  a  plan  from   above,  looking  down- 
ward, of  the  pipes  on  the  attic  ceiling  which  govern 


the  distribution  of  cold  water  for  the  upper  system. 
The  valves  have  their  handles  down,  but  they  are 
here  shown  up  for  distinctness.  The  4-inch  vertical 
branches  C  C  C  from  the  roof  tanks,  Fig.  9,  supply 
the  4-inch  fire  line  S  and  the  pipe  Q  to  the  hot-water 
boiler,  while  a  branch  D  connects  with  the  4-inch 
header  F.  from  which  the  i6-inch  pipes  E  E,  etc.  are 
branched  to  the  rising  lines  of  the  different  parts  of 
the  systems  for  the  ninth  to  the  sixteenth  floors  in- 
clusive, and  lines  G  and  H  are  taken  to  supply  the 
kitchen  and  laundry  and  the  servants'  quarters  on 
the  seventeenth  floor.  I  I  etc.  are  j^-inch  vent  pipes 
opening  above  the  roof  tank. 

Figures  14  and  15  are  sectional  elevations  looking 


PLUMBING  IN  THE  NEW   NETHERLAND   HOTEL,    NEW   YORK   CITY. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


107 


in  different  directions  from  Z  Z,  Fig.  13.  Figure  16 
is  a  sectional  elevation  at  Y  Y,  Fig.  13.  Vent  pipes 
1  I,  etc.  pass  through  the  roof  in  i-inch  sleeves  J  J, 
with  flashings  above  and  escutcheons  below.  The 
distribution  pipes  E  E,  etc.  are  suspended  in  tees 
one  size  larger  than  themselves  and  are  supported 
from  above  by  vertical  pipe  hangers  B  B,  etc.,  which 
either  pass  through  the  floor  and  have  tee-connec- 
tions to  pipes  K  that  lie  on  the  iron  beams  or  are  tee- 
connected  to  i^-inch  bearing  pipes  A,  which  are  sup- 
ported underneath  the  ceiling  by  clamps  L  to  the 
lower  beam  flanges. 

Figure  27  is  a  plan  of  one  of  the  guest  floors  show- 
ing the  arrangement  of  the  bath  and  toilet  rooms. 
The  position  of  the  vertical  hot  and  cold  water  risers 
is  indicated  by  pairs  of  small  black  circles.  The  ar- 
rangement of  all  the  other  guest  floors  is  substan- 
tially similar  to  that  shown.  Each  hot  and  cold 
water  riser  and  circulation  pipe  has  an  independent 
globe  valve  shut- off.  A  brass  tag  fastened  to  each 
valve  is  plainly  stamped  with  a  letter  designating  the 
particular  section  the  valve  controls.  Upon  the  house 
service  side  of  these  valves  ^-inch  globe  valves  are 
connected  to  the  galvanized-iron  pipe  I,  Fig.  3, 
leading  to  a  sink  in  the  engine-room.  Through  these 
valves  and  pipes  the  lines  may  be  emptied  if  neces- 
sary. All  rising  lines  are  parallel  below  the  eighth 
floor,  and  all  the  pipes  in  the  upper  system  are  extra 
heavy  to  sustain  the  maximum  pressure  due  to  a 
head  of  244  feet  at  the  lowest  point. 

All  of  the  fixtures  are  set  on  full-size  marble  slabs, 
having  a  ><-inch  countersink  for  a  save- all,  with  a 
3-inch  brass  rose,  screw-top  strainer,  connected  to  a 
i^-inch  galvanized-iron  waste  pipe  with  a  good  in- 
cline and  entering  its  2-inch  sectional  save-all  waste 
pipes  R,  Fig.  18,  by  a  45-degree  connection.  All 
rooms  in  which  plumbing  fixtures  are  located  have 
tiled  floors,  tile  wainscoting  7  feet  high,  and  heavy 
platerglass  mirrors  permanently  set  into  the  walls. 
All  stall  partitions  are  of  marble.  No  toilet-rooms 
are  built  against  outside  walls,  but  to  insure  to  each 
room  a  sufficient  supply  of  fresh  air  six  vertical  vent 
shafts  2'6"x5',  equipped  with  exhaust  fans  at  their 
tops  above  the  roof,  were  located  in  different  parts 
of  the  building,  and  the  water-closets  were  clustered 
as  near  them  as  possible,  and  each  was  connected  to 
it  by  a  ventilating  space  formed  between  the  main 
ceiling  and  an  auxiliary  one  hung  18  inches  below  it. 
The  foul  air  thus  removed  is  replaced  by  fresh  air 
drawn  in  from  the  halls  through  wall  openings  just 
above  the  floor,  which  are  screened  with  open  bronzed 
fretwork. 

The  several  soil,  waste,  and  venting  stacks,  water 
and  circulating  pipes  were  run  in  the  vent  shafts  and 
ducts  wherever  it  was  possible  in  order  to  make  ac- 
cess easy  for  repairs  or  alterations.  Beside  the 
kitchen,  laundry,  and  barber-shop  fixtures  and  other 
fixtures  in  the  cellar,  basement,  first,  sixteenth,  and 
seventeenth  floors,  the  14  guest  floors  have  210  bath- 
tubs, 316  washbasins,  243  water-closets,  14  slopsinks. 
and  two  urinals.  Each  fixture  has  an  independent 
trap  which  is  back-vented  and  has  cleanout  holes. 
All  water  connections  have  a  separate  globe  valve 
shut-off.  The  wastes  are  of  the  stand-pipe  pattern 


y    r 

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308 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


iniOl  SdUH  N3IAI 
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AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


109 


and  all  brasswork  is  nickel-plated.  The  marble  basin 
slabs  are  i^  inches  thick  and  have  i4-inch  backs. 
All  fixtures  are  exposed,  the  basin  slabs  being  sup- 
ported by  nickel-plated  brass  legs  and  the  bathtubs 
resting  5  inches  from  the  floor  on  marble  footings. 

Figure  18  shows  the  general  plan  of  drainage,  trap 
vent,  and  safe  wastes  for  the  several  bath  and  toilet 
rooms.  A  is  the  s-inch  soil  pipe  with  the  5-inch  con- 
nection B  for  the  water-closet.  From  the  s-inch  vent 
stack  C  at  a  point  well  above  all  fixtures  is  taken  a 
2-inch  branch  E,  which  has  tee  branches  F  and  G  to 
the  water-closet  and  bathtub  traps  and  pitches  con- 
tinuously  to  the  branch  H.  forming  the  basin  waste. 
This  is  intended  to  provide  a  free  circulation  of  air 
through  all  the  connected  pipes.  The  safe  waste  J 
has  a  heavy  pitch  and  is  accessible  for  cleaning  if 
obstructed. 

PART     VI  — PLAN     OF     BASEMENT    AND    DESCRIPTION     OF 
PLUMBING    IN     UPPER    STORIES. 

FIGURE  19  is  a  basement  plan  showing  the  arrange- 
ment of  the  plumbing  fixtures  and  indicating  by 
arrows  the  direction  of  foul  air  exhausted  into  the 
ventilating  shafts  A  A,  etc.  There  are  in  the  cellar 
some  dripsinks  and  water-closets;  on  the  sixteenth 
floor  washbowls,  water-closets,  and  bathrooms  for 
the  servants;  and  on  the  seventeenth  floor  the  usual 
laundry  apparatus  and  a  steam  drying  closet.  There 
is  also  on  this  floor  the  following  kitchen  apparatus 
installed  by  the  Duparquet,  Huot  &  Moneuse  Com- 
pany: 40  feet  of  ranges,  6  feet  of  broilers,  two  steam 
stock  boilers,  two  steam  vegetable  steamers,  one 
four-compartment  dry  steamer,  one  steam  egg  boiler, 
two  steam  bain-marie  boxes,  two  steam  tables,  six 
steam  dish  heaters,  two  steam  dish  washers,  10  coffee, 
tea,  and  hot-water  urns,  two  steam  confectioners' 
kettles,  cooks' and  marble  tables,  freezer,  ice  breaker, 
steel  canopies  over  ranges,  kettles,  etc.,  and  copper 
and  tin  cooking  utensils,  etc. 


IV ire  Cable  to  Pump  Room 


REMODELING  AN   ELABORATE  WATER 
SYSTEM  IN  A  HOTEL. 

(PUBLISHED  IN   18(55.) 

AFTER  the  completion  of  the  new  Hotel  Pfister  in 
Milwaukee,  Wis.  it  was  found  that  the  hot  and  cold 
water  distribution  and  circulation  systems  were  com- 
plicated, confused,  and  unsatisfactory,  and  Messrs. 
Halsey  Brothers,  of  Milwaukee,  were  engaged  to 
make  such  changes  and  reconstruction  as  were  neces- 
sary to  secure  the  efficient  and  positive  operation 
and  control  of  the  system.  Their  examination  dis- 
closed an  irregular  arrangement  and  a  great  multi- 
plication of  pipes,  many  of  them  not  properly  con- 
nected, valved,  or  identified.  Separate  lines  were  not 
always  distinguishable,  and  it  was  often  impossible 
either  to  locate  the  pipes  leading  to  certain  fixtures  or 
to  command  them  afterwards  without  involving 
many  others,  thus  making  satisfactory  mainte- 
nance and  operation  almost  impossible.  This  state 
of  affairs  illustrates  the  necessity  of  installing  large 
work  by  the  simplest  and  most  carefully  developed 
direct  system  with  experienced  practical  treatment 
of  arrangement  and  connections  as  well  as  of  adher- 
ing to  the  letter  of  specification  and  architects'  gen- 
eral requirements  on  the  plans.  As  it  was  impracti- 
cable to  change  the  pipe  lines  already  permanently 
built  into  the  walis  and  floors  and  it  was  not  per- 
mitted to  disturb  the  decorations  of  the  upper  floors 
a  series  of  careful  measurements  and  plans  was  first 
made,  locating  and  tracing  every  pipe  line  in  the 
building  down  to  the  cellar  where  the  engines, 
pumps,  etc.  were  located.  Then  an  accurate  cellar 
plan  was  made  to  large  scale  showing  the  existing 
arrangement  of  pipes  and  connections,  and  on  it  a 
new  system  was  laid  out  dividing  the  different  lines 
into  suitable  groups,  and  arranging  and  connecting 
iron  branches  so  as  to  conform  as  well  as  possible  to 
the  old  arrangement  and  yet  secure  the  utmost  sim- 

Wire  Cable  Co  Pump  Room    ' 


I'Safe  Haste 

House  Supply  to  Cellar 


Approximate  Scale  of  Feet. 


REMODELING    AN    ELABORATE    WATER    SYSTEM    IN    A    HOTEL. 


no 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


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AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


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plicity  and  directness  for  the  new  system  and  provide 
for  its  complete  and  easy  control  and  maintenance. 

Two  distribution  drums  or  headers  were  provided 
for  the  hot  and  cold  water,  and  all  the  connections 
were  gradually  brought  to  them  without  interrupting 
the  general  service  throughout  the  house,  which  was 
then  occupied,  and  without  shutting  off  any  line  ex- 
cept the  one  actually  being  connected  at  a  given 
time. 

Figure  i  shows  the  present  arrangement  of  headers 
and  distribution  pipes.  All  the  hot  water  is  under 
tank  pressure  and  is  distributed  from  this  point,  but 
the  cold  water  for  cellar  and  basement  is  supplied 
from  a  separate  2-inch  pipe  under  street  pressure, 
from  which  branches  are  taken  off  and  run  on  the 
cellar  ceiling  to  the  required  points,  where  short 
risers  are  taken  off  and  valved.  The  cold  water 
header  is  supplied  from  the  roof  tank,  but  can  be 
connected  to  the  street  pressure.  The  return  circula- 
tion header  is  composed  of  2  inch  Y's  and  nipples. 
All  valves  have  brass  labels  attached  to  them  bear- 
ing the  same  number  that  is  marked  on  the  pipe  lines 
that  they  control,  and  which  is  also  recorded  on  a 
key  provided  wich  double  references. 

The  cold-water  supply  is  pumped  into  a  45,000- 
gallon  pair  of  attic  tanks  built  of  riveted  steel  plates 
stiffened  with  heavy  4X4-inch  angles  around  the  sides 
and  set  on  4-inch  rolled  crossbeams  that  raise  them 
above  the  bottom  of  6-inch  steel  safe  pans,  which  in 
turn  are  supported  on  heavy  1 5-inch  girders  across 
the  top  of  brick  walls.  A  large,  heavy  float  made 
from  a  whisky  keg  is  hinged  by  a  4- foot  arm  to  the 
top  of  each  tank,  and  its  motion  is  limited  by  a  check 
chain.  A  ^  inch  copper-wire  cable  is  attached  to  the 
float  and  carried  over  pulleys  to  the  pump-room, 
where  the  other  end  is  secured  to  a  lever  L,  Fig.  3, 
which  is  connected  with  another  lever  M  that  is 
loaded  with  a  counterweight  W,  of  20  pounds,  about 
half  the  weight  of  the  float  keg.  When  the  water 
rises  in  the  tank  the  ascent  of  the  float  keg  slacks  off 
its  cable  C  and  allows  the  counterweight  W  to  pull 
down  both  levers.  Lever  M  being  attached  to  the 
stem  of  the  steam  valve,  closes  it  and  stops  the 
pumps.  As  the  water  falls  in  the  tank  the  operation 
is  reversed,  the  descending  float  keg  pulls  back  the 
cable  raising  the  lighter  counterweight  and  lifts  lever 
M,  opening  the  steam  valve  and  starting  the  pump, 
and  so  on,  automatically.  Of  course  the  automatic 
steam  valve  S  can  be  fastened  open,  and  the  pump 
controlled  at  will  by  the  hand  valve  V.  Adjustments 
are  made  by  attaching  the  cable  to  different  points 
on  line  L.  There  are  two  pumps  and  two  float 
cables,  all  similarly  connected  up  to  a  shaft  R,  so 
that  either  float  will  control  both  pumps.  There  is 
also  a  gauge  board  in  the  pump-room  with  an  index 
indicating  the  water  level  in  the  tanks. 


PLUMBING  DETAILS  IN  AN  OMAHA  HOTEL. 

(PUBLISHED   IN    18^4.) 

IN  the  Millard  Hotel,  Omaha,  Neb.,  a  prominent 
feature  of  the  plumbing  is  the  arrangement,  in  the 
main  public  toilet-room,  of  a  central  cluster  of  eight 


urinals  which  are  grouped  around  an  octagonal  mar- 
ble center,  which  was  especially  designed  by  W.  H. 
Spelman,  of  New  York,  then  of  Omaha,  Neb.  These 
are  arranged  so  as  to  comprise  in  a  compact  form  in 
the  waste  space  between  the  stalls  all  the  supply, 
waste,  trap,  vent,  and  flushing  pipes  and  gas  and 
water  pipes,  symmetrically  arranged  and  effectually 
screened  from  view  or  disturbance  while  completely 
accessible  at  will,  and  at  the  same  time  provide  for 
flushing  without  the  use  of  a  tank,  which  was  inter- 
dicted. 

Figure  i  is  a  front  view  of  the  stalls,  which  are 
placed  in  the  center  of  a  room  about  20  feet  square, 
which  is  lighted  by  the  four  gas  jets  G  G,  etc.,  whose 
curved  branches  were  made  from  brass  tubes,  bent 
and  trimmed  to  correspond  with  the  other  exposed 
pipes,  and  connected  to  the  supply  main  in  the  ceil- 
ing by  a  brass  four- way  piece  A.  To  secure  rigidity, 
the  bottom  of  this  piece  was  made  continuous  with 
the  vertical  riser  from  the  floor.  The  copper  pipe  B 
was  closed  at  both  ends,  and  merely  braced  A  to  the 
top  of  the  air  chamber  C,  which  cushions  the  water 
in  the  eight  copper  branches  D  D,  etc.,  by  which  the 
different  urinals  are  periodically  flushed. 

Figure  2  is  a  top  plan  from  Z  Z  and  shows  the 
marble  cover  slab  H,  which  is  cut  in  two  on  the  line 
F  F  so  that  either  side  is  conveniently  removable  for 
access  to  the  pipes  below.  I  is  a  handhole  command- 
ing an  inside  flush  valve. 

Figure  3  is  a  vertical  cross-section  at  F  F,  Fig.  2, 
through  the  pipe  chamber,  showing  the  characteristic 
features  of  the  most  important  details.  Some  of 
these  are  magnified  or  displaced  to  avoid  confusion 
or  obscureness.  The  marble  top  H  rests  loosely  on 
the  wainscot  panels  J,  which  are  keyed  together  and 
mortised  to  the  wings  W,  both  of  which  fit  into 
filleted  sockets  K  in  the  2  ^-inch  slate  floor  slabs  L, 
thus  securing  very  firm  marble-work  rigidly  secured 
without  bolts  or  metal  clamps, 

The  special  urinal  waste  is  commanded  in  front  by 
trap  screw  M,  and  enters,  just  inside  the  chamber,  a 
brass  Y,  also  special,  that  connects  with  the  discharge 
and  ventilation  pipes.  The  former  are  slightly 
trapped  to  break  up  sound  transmission,  and  the 
latter  communicate  with  an  air-tight  metal  box  made 
of  24-ounce  copper  and  having  a  continuous  outward 
draft  through  the  5-inch  exhaust  flue.  This  arrange- 
ment is  designed  to  secure  the  constant  removal  of 
all  vapor,  etc.,  directly  from  the  bottoms  of  the 
urinals,  where  they  originate,  before  they  can  rise  or 
become  at  all  diffused.  The  supply  for  the  flush 
pipes  passes  through  the  box  through  stuffing-boxes 
N  N,  and  has  a  small  cock  which  is  furnished  with  a 
rubber  hose  and  bulb,  so  that  if  any  obstruction  oc- 
curs in  any  vent  pipe  O  a  stream  of  water  can  be 
easily  forced  through  it.  The  3-inch  main  waste 
pipe  extends  above  the  water  line  and  is  flanged  out 
to  fit  a  4-inch  vertical  vent  pipe,  which  is  connected 
to  it  by  a  wiped  flange  joint  which  takes  bearing 
on  a  ring  Q  supported  from  the  floor  by  a  brass 
tripod. 

Figure  4  is  a  horizontal  section  at  Z  Z,  Fig.  3. 
Figure  5  shows  the  connection  of  the  vent  flue  to  the 
main  chimney  so  as  to  always  secure  a  strong  up- 


112 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


PLUMBING   DETAILS   IN   AN  OMAHA   HOTEL. 


ward  draft  from  the  urinals.     The  draft  is  controlled  closed,  and  has  a  by-pass  (not  here  shown)  around  it 

by  the  sliding  damper   D,  which  is  usually  partly  to  prevent  all  ventilation  from  ever  being  stopped. 


PLUMBING   OF   HOSPITALS. 


PLUMBING    IN    A   NEW  YORK    INFIRMARY. 

(PUBLISHED  IN   1894.) 

PART  I. — GENERAL  DESCRIPTION,  WATER-SUPPLY  DIS- 
TRIBUTION, HOT-WATER  SYSTEM,  PIPE  FITTING, 
TRENCHES,  BASEMENT  PLAN,  VALVE  BOARD,  AND 
RISER  LINES. 

THE  New  York  Infirmary  for  Women  and  Children 
is  located  on  Livingston  Place,  New  York  City.  Its 
plumbing  was  intended  to  be  of  the  simplest  charac- 
ter consistent  with  excellence,  and  to  be  especially 
adapted  to  the  hospital  requirements  and  to  the 
structural  conditions  of  the  edifice.  Detailed  draw- 
ings were  prepared  showing  the  exact  position  of 
every  fixture  and  the  sizes,  lengths,  and  locations  of 


main  supplies  a  2-inch  branch  with  a  stop  to  the 
pump  in  the  cellar,  and  a  ^-inch  branch  with  a  stop 
to  the  kitchen  sink,  and  a  2-inch  branch  to  supply 
the  steam  boilers  in  the  cellar.  The  hot-air  pump 
delivers  through  a  2j^-inch  riser  to  a  4,ooo-gallon 
covered  cedar  roof  tank,  which  is  strongly  bound 
with  adjustable  wrought-iron  bands.  Six  inches 
below  the  top  of  the  tank  is  a  3-inch  overflow  to  the 
roof  and  a  i-inch  draw-off  with  a  valve  at  the  bottom 
into  the  overflow.  A  2j^-inch  house  supply  and  fire 
line  is  valved  at  the  bottom  of  tank  and  runs  to  the 
valve  board  in  the  basement.  This  has  2-inch 
branches  and  screw  plugs  for  fire  purposes  on  each 
floor.  A  i^-inch  telltale  pipe  runs  from  the  top  of 


B        Laundry 


£Va"from  TuriJc 
Jt 


Valve  Board. 


FIG.  2. 
PLUMBING   IN    A   NEW   YORK   INFIRMARY. 


pipe  lines,  and  all  valves,  bends,  cleanotits,  traps, 
and  other  pipe  fittings,  and  from  these  drawings  and 
the  comprehensive  specifications  the  estimates  and 
bids  for  contracts  were  made.  The  accompanying 
illustrations  are  prepared  from  these  original  draw- 
ings, which  show  the  principal  plans  and  elevations. 
The  plans  for  the  plumbing  were  drawn  by  A.  L. 
Webster,  of  New  York  City,  and  the  work  was  done 
by  W.  H.  Alexander,  of  Englewood,  N.  J. 

The  water  supply  from  the  street  is  commanded 
by  a  2^-inch  brass  gate  valve  and  wheel  in  a  covered 
masonry  box  at  the  front  area  wall,  whence  a  2^- 
inch  pipe  is  carried  under  the  basement  floor  in  a 
masonry  main  drain  trench,  and  on  the  cellar  ceiling 
to  the  valve  board  in  the  basement.  Here  branch 
lines  and  control  valves  are  arranged  as  shown  in 
Figs,  i  and  2.  Before  reaching  the  valve  board  the 


the  tank  and  discharges  with  a  brass  flap  into  a  tell- 
tale sink  in  the  cellar. 

Street  pressure  hot  and  cold  water  is  arranged  to 
supply  the  cellar  boilers,  basement  and  first-story  fix- 
tures, and  front  and  rear  yard  hydrants.  All  hot 
water  for  the  building  is  furnished  by  two  galvanized- 
iron  heavy  boilers  (200  gallons  street  pressure  and  400 
gallons  tank  pressure),  with  interior  spiral  brass  tubes, 
heated  by  steam  from  the  steam  boiler.  Hot  tank 
and  street  circulation  returns  are  carried  from  the 
tops  of  all  hot  risers  to  valve  board  in  basement  and 
returned  thence  to  the  hot  boilers.  All  high-pressure 
hot  risers  are  extended  to  and  above  the  house  tank 
to  serve  as  expansion  pipes.  All  wastes  are  carried  to 
telltale  sink  under  the  basement  ceiling.  All  water 
pipes  are  heavy  galvanized  iron,  exposed  through- 
out. Traps  and  back-air  connections  are  lead. 


114 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


Waste  and  back-air  pipes  are  of  cast  iron.  All 
branch  connections  are  Y's  and  one-eighth  bends. 
Y-branch  connections  were  required  to  be  well  turned 
up.  Brass  extra-heavy  screw  cleanouts  with  ferrules 
calked  into  iron  pipe  are  set  to  command  all  bends 
and  horizontal  sections  of  drain  pip'es.  All  hot  and 
cold-water  pipes  have  12-inch  extensions  beyond  fau- 
cets to  prevent  water  hammer.  All  pipes  exposed  to 
frost  are  packed  with  extra-quality  mineral  wool  with 
painted  canvas  covers.  Hot  and  cold-water  pipes 
are  spaced  2  inches  apart,  and  steam  and  cold-water 
pipes  6  inches  apart.  Unions  are  placed  at  frequent 
intervals  to  allow  the  pipe  lines  to  be  easily  discon- 
nected for  changes  and  repairs.  Finished  nickel- 
plated  stop  and  wastes  with  number  tag  are  put  on 
all  branch  lines  on  each  floor  to  shut  off  individual 


groups  of  fixtures.  All  mains  are  carried  to  the 
valve  board  in  the  basement,  and  all  the  distributing 
risers  are  taken  from  this  point  to  all  fixtures.  All 
branches  to  the  basement  fixtures  are  hung  on  the 
basement  ceiling  and  drop  to  the  fixtures.  All 
branches  on  the  upper  floors  are  hung  on  the  ceiling 
of  the  room  below  and  rise  to  fixtures  above.  All 
openings  in  the  floors  and  ceilings  for  lines  of  pipe 
are  entirely  closed  and  packed  with  mineral  wool  so 
as  to  completely  seal  the  opening.  All  roof  joints 
are  flashed  with  six  pounds  sheet  lead,  and  all  open 
ends  above  the  roof  are  protected  with  wire  globe 
cages.  Each  vertical  column  of  pipes  is  solidly. and 
entirely  supported  on  a  I2xi2-inch  brick  pier,  built 
before  the  application  of  the  water  tests.  All  hori- 
zontal or  inclined  lead  pipes  are  supported  for  the  en. 


Wj  £/(//•*  \ssjsssssssst        jt  //       \t&<n 


Illlll  |   illllliiip"         "         "        "         "        "ctccm  "oi.it- — — ^ 


:i  Wajte  and  LeaderPipej 
Back  Air  Pipes 


Si reet  Pressure  Cold   — -.< — . 

,;  >•>       HotandCir  — 

Tank        n          »     »     »    — 

»       Cold  FireLmeitc. — .1  —  n  — « —  »- 


KIG.    I. 
(,    IN    A   NEW   YORK   INFIRMARY. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


115 


iSection  -  Columns  B  and  C. 


FIG.   3. 


PLUMBING   IN   A   NEW   YORK  INFIRMARY. 


Section-  Column  A.. 

FIG.  4 


116 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


117 


118 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


tire  length  on  shelves  or  wooden  carrying  strips.    All 
pipes  are  laid  to  drain  completely. 

The  main  drain  pipes  are  laid  below  the  basement 
floor  in  a  brick  drain  trench  with  16  inches  clear  width 
inside.  The  bottom  of  the  trench  is  of  3  inches  con- 
crete with  half-inch  Portland  cement  finish,  troweled 
smooth.  The  trench  begins  at  the  front  area  wall 
and  extends  back  with  a  continuous  rising  grade  of 
one-fourth  inch  to  the  foot.  The  side  walls  of  the 
trench  are  12  inches  thick  where  more  than  2  feet  be- 
low the  surface,  elsewhere  8  inches  thick.  The 
trench  is  covered  with  2l/2-inch  hammer-dressed  blue- 
stone  flags  flush  with  the  floor,  cut  with  perfect  joints, 
laid  in  Portland  cement,  and  having  full  4-inch  bear- 
ings on  each  side  wall.  There  is  also  a  masonry 
trench  under  the  laundry  floor  to  carry  floor  drain 
and  a  3-inch  and  2-inch  line  to  laundry  tubs  and 
laundry  machinery.  The  mortar  was  mixed  i  part 
cement  to  2  parts  sand;  concrete  i  of  cement,  2  of 
sand,  3  of  2-inch  broken  stone.  Over  the  main  house 
trap  in  the  front  is  set  a  i6xi6-incn  iron  cover  coun- 
tersunk into  the  stone  and  with  countersunk  lifting 
ring,  and  over  the  rain  leader  trap  a  loxio-inch  cast- 
iron  cover  countersunk  flush  with  the  surface.  At 
the  front  wall  is  set  an  8-inch  running  trap  with 
brass  screw-cover  cleanout  and  a  6  inch  fresh-air  in- 
let to  the  front  curb  with  brick  box  and  iron  grating 
let  into  the  flag,  hinged  and  with  street  wash  lock 
and  key. 


Laundry  Tub.,, 


Sloptfink. 


Portable  Batt)   <opper  cover  for 

Laundry  Tubs. 


PART  II. — PIPE  AND  JOINT  SPECIFICATIONS,  DESCRIPTION 
OF  FIXTURES,  SPECIAL  COVERED  SINKS  AND  STEAM 
JETS,  EIGHT  FLOOR  PLANS  AND  DETAILS  OF  ALCOVE 
SINK,  COMBINATION  COCK  TUBS,  ETC. 

THE  cast-iron  pipes  must  have  the  following  aver- 
age weights  per  lineal  foot:  Two  inches  5^  pounds, 
3  inches  g}4,  pounds,  4  inches  13  pounds,  5  inches  17 
pounds,  6  inches  20  pounds,  7  inches  27  pounds,  8 
inches  33^  pounds.  All  joints  in  cast-iron  pipe  are 
made  with  picked  oakum  and  pure  soft  pig  lead, 
well  calked  home.  For  each  joint  in  cast-iron  pipe 
12  ounces  of  lead  was  specified  to  be  used  for  each 
inch  of  diameter  of  pipe  in  which  joint  was  made, 
and  no  joints  were  allowed  to 
be  covered  or  painted  before 
being  tested  under  water 
pressure.  Afterwards  pipes 
and  fittings  were  painted 
three  coats  of  lead  paint. 
All  wrought-iron  pipe,  plain 
galvanized  or  otherwise 
treated,  is  "  standard  "  pipe, 
factory -tested  to  300  pounds 
per  square  inch.  Pipe  to  i  ^f- 
inch  diameter  butt-welded, 
larger  sizes  lap-welded.  All 
lead  soil,  waste,  and  vent 
pipe  is  drawn  pipe  of  the  best 
quality  and  of  the  following 
weights  per  lineal  foot:  One- 
half  inch  one  pound,  three- 
fourths  inch  i^  pounds,  i 
inch  two  puonds,  iy2  inches 

3  Y?,  pounds,  2  inches4^  pounds,  3  inches  seven  pounds, 

4  inches  eight  pounds.     All  connections  of  lead  and 
iron  pipe  are  made  by  "heavy  "  brass  ferrules  of  the 
same  size  as  the  lead  pipe,  threaded  and  screwed 
into  the  hub  of  the  iron  pipe.     Fixture  connections 
with  iron  pipe  have  short  lengths  of  heavy  lead  pipe 
where  not  exposed  to  view.      There  are  no  safes 
under  any  of  the  fixtures.     When  the  work  was  com- 
pleted ready  to  set  the  fixtures,  the  soil,  waste,  and 
drain  pipes  were  tested  by  water  pressure  maintained 
without  leakage,  from  the  level  of  the  main  house 
trap  to  the  top  of  the  highest  pipe,  and  after  the  en- 
tire completion  of  the  work  it  was  subjected  to  the 
peppermint  test. 

The  number  and  location  of  fixtures  is  as  shown  in 
the  accompanying  table: 


Sixtl)  Floor  Alcove  Sink 


Cellar.  | 

Basement. 

u 

E 

Second. 

Third. 

Fourth. 

.c 

s 

.c 
« 
Jj 

Seventh. 

3 

2 

2 

2 

3 

2 

3 

2 

2 
1 

r 

1 

Baths              -  

Sinks                

i 

3 

2 

I 

3 

I 
I 

2 

3 

i 

2 

3 
I 
2 

2 

2 
2 

i 

T 

Basins  

New  laumiry  tubs  

3 

,       5     .  iJL  „„- 

FIG.  7. 


The    new    laundry     tubs     are     of    brown    glazed 
earthenware,  and  each  has  a  2^-inch  nickel-plated 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


119 


crosspipe  at  the  bottom,  capped  at  both  ends,  per- 
forated with  small  holes,  and  supplied  with  steam 
through  a  ^"-inch  nickel-plated  globe  valve  with 
wood  wheel  handle.  All  are  arranged  so  that  water 
may  be  boiled  in  the  tub  by  injecting  steam  into  it 
as  shown  in  Fig.  7.  All  tubs  have  stiff  wire-bound 
planished  copper  movable  covers  with  lip  turned 
down  inside  all  around  and  with  two  lifting  handles 
on  each  cover  with  rubber  guard.  The  roll-rim 
kitchen  sink  is  of  brown  glazed  earthenware  with 
bronzed  iron  legs,, marble  back,  cap,  and  ends,  with 
porcelain-lined  iron  body  grease  trap.  The  scullery 
sink  is  of  earthenware,  with  nickel-plated  recess 
standing  overflow,  set  on  iron  brackets  with  marble 
back,  caps,  and  ends  along  the  entire  wall  at 
the  back  and  ends  of  sink  space.  There  are 
24"xT7"x6"  butlers'  earthenware  sinks  on  the  first 
and  third  floors  and  28"xi6"x6"  earthenware  tea 
sinks  on  the  first,  second,  third,  and  fourth  floors,  all 
with  recessed  standing  overflows  On  the  fourth, 
fifth,  and  sixth  floors  are  earthenware  draw  sinks 
with  1 8-inch  Italian  marble  back,  sides,  and  caps. 
The  sixth -floor  sink  is  set  in  an  alcove  with  Italian 
marble  back  and  sides  18  inches  high,  and  rests  ori 
galvanized- iron  pipe  through  marble  so  as  to  be  free 
all  round.  It  has  a  steam  jet  turned  down  into  the 
sink  and  hot  and  cold  water  and  steam  combination 
cock  with  globe  valve  with  wood  handle.  On  the 
third,  fourth,  fifth,  sixth,  and  seventh  floors  are  five 
3o"x2o"x7"  earthenware  instrument  sinks  with  ^"-inch 
nickel-plated  brass  steam  supply  to  the  bottom  of  the 
sink  with  perforated  crosspiece  and  globe  valve  with 
wood  wheel  handle.  Each  sink  has  a  stiff  wire-bound 
nickel- plated  brass  or  copper  movable  cover  with  two 
lifting  handles  with  rubber  handholes  and  a  lip 
turned  down  inside  and  neatly  fitted  to  make  a  tight 
joint.  All  is  finished  so  that  water  may  be  boiled  in 
the  sinks  by  steam  jets. 

There  are  nine  stationary  porcelain-lined  bathtubs 
with  nickel-plated  double  compression  faucets,  rub- 
ber-tube coupling  and  nickel-plated  sprinkler.  Also 
one  portable  indurated  fiber  5  foot  tub  on  wheels 
with  nickel-plated  draw-off  cock  to  discharge  into  a 
nickel-plated  brass  funnel  connected  with  lead  trap 
and  back-air  complete  This  tub  has  on  the  side  wall 
a  nickel-plated  combination  cock  with  nickel-plated 
coupling  hose  and  nickel- plated  sprinkler.  The  wash- 
basins are  oval,  19x15  inches,  and  they  and  the 
porcelain  water-closets  are  ivory-tinted,  with  nickel- 
plated  fixtures. 


PLUMBING  IN  THE   ISABELLA  HOME,  NEW 
YORK. 

(PUBLISHED   IN    188}  ) 

THE  Isabella  Home  is  an  institution  founded  by 
Oswald  Ottendorfer,  Esq.,  and  completed  in  1889,  in 
the  northern  part  of  Manhattan  Island  (at  Tenth 
Avenue  and  One  Hundred  and  Ninetieth  Street),  as 
a  hospital  and  home  for  sick  and  aged  persons. 

It  is  a  large  building  with  granite  walls,  fireproof 
interior,  and  natural  wood  finish,  and  designed  to 
accommodate  200  inmates,  besides  Sisters  of  Mercy, 


nurses,  attendants,  servants,  etc.  The  architects 
were  William  Schickel  &  Co.,  of  New  York,  and  the 
plumbing  and  gasfitting  was  done  by  Oliver  Barratt, 
of  the  same  city. 

The  building  is  four  and  five  stories  high  above  the 
basement,  and  consists  essentially  of  a  center  portion 
about  60x200  feet  flanked  by  a  hospital  wing  of  60x100 
feet  at  each  end,  the  whole  inclosing  three  sides  of  a 
rectangle,  whose  fourth  side  is  partly  occupied  by 
a  detached  three-story  brick  stable  building,  with 
carriage-house  and  coachman's  apartments.  The 
plumbing  system  in  the  main  building  comprises  four 
lines  of  2-inch  fire  pipe,  with  hose  cocks  on  each 
floor,  eight  main  distribution  lines  of  hot  and  cold 
water  and  six  main  lines  of  soil  pipe,  connected  with 
a  private  sewer  to  the  city  system  several  blocks 
away.  There  are,  besides,  three  main  soil-pipe  lines 
in  the  stable. 

All  water  pipe -is  of  galvanized  iron,  bronzed,  and 
all  soil  pipes  were  extra  heavy  cast  iron  tested,  after 
fitting,  by  air  pressure  of  about  10  pounds  per  square 
inch  (21  inches  of  mercury).  All  pipes  were  entirely 
exposed  and  everywhere  accessible,  and  never  closer 
than  i  inch  to  the  finished  wall  or  ceiling;  most  of 
them  were  offset  much  further  than  i  inch,  affording 
ample  opportunity  for  calking  joints,  setting  fixtures, 
and  for  painting  around  them.  All  horizontal  lines 
were  suspended  below  the  ceilings,  and  the  cleaning 
holes  for  soil  pipes  were  placed  below  the  ceilings. 
There  are  18  general  toilet-rooms,  containing  28 
water-closets,  six  urinals,  36  washbowls,  18  bathtubs, 
and  18  slopsinks. 

There  are  two  servants'  rooms  in  the  basement, 
that  together  contain  two  double  washbowls,  four 
water-closets,  one  urinal,  and  one  slopsink.  There 
are,  besides,  two  detached  washbowls,  nine  porcelain 
sinks  for  butler's  pantry  use,  etc. :  three  kitchen  iron 
sinks,  three  basement  sinks  for  receiving  the  dis- 
charge from  drip  and  waste  pipes,  etc.;  two  iron 
sinks  for  chambermaid's  use,  one  iron  sink  in  the 
boiler  room  and  one  iron  sink  -in  the  dead-house.  In 
the  coachman's  apartments  are  laundry  tubs,  two 
kitchen  sinks  and  boilers,  and  two  water-closets. 

In  the  stables  is  a  horse  trough,  carriage  washer, 
and  numerous  hose  cocks  and  draw  cocks,  and  there 
are  about  a  dozen  lawn  sprinklers;  all  water  is  sup- 
plied from  the  city  mains  through  a  3-inch  pipe,  and 
all  the  soil  and  drain  pipes  are  served  by  a  12-inch 
terra-cotta  sewer  pipe  from  the  outside  walls  to  the 
city  sewer. 

Figure  3  shows  the  receiving  tank  and  boiler  in 
the  basement  adjacent  to  boiler-room.  A  is  a 
wrought-iron  tank  about  10x6  feet  and  5  feet  deep. 

Water  from  the  city  main  is  received  through  the 
3  i  ch  pipe  B  and  ball  cock  C,  and  is  pumped  out 
through  the  3  inch  suction  pipe  D. 

The  2-inch  emptying  pipe  F  is  branched  above  its 
valve  G  to  afford  a  supply  to  the  boilers  through  the 
2-inch  pipe  E  independent  of  the  roof  tanks  or  pumps. 
H  is  a  3-inch  overflow.  The  boiler  I,  about  10  feet 
long  and  4  feet  in  diameter,  is  supported  above  A,  as 
shown  by  iron  beams  J  J.  on  columns  K  K,  and  con- 
tains two  loo-foot  steam  coils  that  are  supplied  with 
live  or  exhaust  steam  through  L  and  return  it  through 


120 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


pipes  M  and  M.  N  is  a  2-inch  pipe  supplying  cold 
water  from  the  roof  tank,  and  O  is  a  check  valve  to 
prevent  any  upward  flow.  T  is  a  i-inch  supply  to 
lawn  sprinklers,  and  Q  is  a  2^- inch  branch  to  sink 
faucet.  R  is  the  2-inch  hot-water  supply  and  has  a 
2^-inch  branch  S  to  the  sink  faucet.  T  is  the  s^-inch 
emptying  pipe.  U  is  the  2 -inch  (increased  above  to 
zy2  inches)  force  pipe  from  the  adjacent  pump  to  the 
roof  tanks;  it  can  be  emptied  by  ^-iiich  drip  pipe  V. 
W  is  a  i  «^-inch  safe  waste  and  X  is  a  2-inch  trap  vent 
pipe.  Y  is  an  iron  sink  receiving  the  discharge  from 
pipes  H,  T,  and  W,  and  emptying  to  sewer  through 
trap  Z. 


Figure  4  shows  diagrams  of  the  twin  roof  tanks  A 
and  A.  They  are  built  of  -j^-inch  wrought  iron  and  are 
each  about  I2'x8'x6'  deep.  B  is  the  2j^-inch  force  pipe 
from  the  pump,  filling  the  tanks  through  their  inde- 
pendent valves  C  and  C.  D  is  a  2,'^-inch  delivery 
for  house  supply,  and  can  draw  from  either  or  both 
tanks  by  regulating  valves  E  E.  On  the  opposite 
side  of  the  tanks  the  overflow  pipe  F  discharges  into 
the  roof  gutter,  and  the  tanks  may  be  emptied 
through  the  3-inch  pipe  G  that  discharges  into  a  sink 
on  the  next  floor  beneath. 

Figure  5  shows  a  portion  of  one  tank  and  its  tie- 
rods  and  the  details  of  support. 


•D 


*      /  •    i  *-       -* 

•FiQ<3  •  PLUMBING  IN  THE.  ISABELLA  HOME  *N  *Y* 


J^LUMBINO    IN   THE 

ISABELLA^HOME  -N -Y- 


PLUMBING  IN  THE  ISABELLA  HOME,   NEW  YORK  CITY. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


121 


PLUMBING 

IN  THE 

ISABELLA  HOME-N-Y- 


PLUMBING  IN  THE  ISABELLA  HOME,   NEW  YORK  CITY. 


Figure  6  shows  the  hose  bracket,  designed  by  Mr. 
Barratt,  to  fasten  on  the  fire-line  pipe  instead  of 
against  the  wall  as  is  customary.  A  is  the  fire  line 
and  E  is  the  hose  cock,  H  is  the  hose  supported  on 
bracket  B  that  swings  on  hinge  blocks  C  C.  A  thin 
steel  band  D  passes  through  a  slot  in  C  and  is  sprung 
over  the  pipe  A  and  tightly  clamped  by  set  screw  F. 

Figure  7  shows  the  arrangement  of  hinge  block 
and  band,  and  Fig.  8  is  a  section  through  Fig.  7, 
showing  in  solid  black  the  pipe  A,  that  is  omitted 
for  clearness,  in  Fig.  7. 


Figure  9  is  a  section  at  W  W  of  Fig.  10,  and 
Fig  -10  is  an  elevation  from  V  V,  Fig.  9;  both 
show  the  method  adopted  for  carrying  the  soil 
and  trap  vent  pipes,  as  A,  through  the  roof.  B 
•is  the  top  and  C  the  riser  of  a  small  board  step 
just  at  the  top  of  a  hub  D.  A  sheet  of  lead 
E  is  flanged  into  the  hub  and  its  upper 
edge  is  laid  under  the  slates  F,  and  its  lower 
edge  is  laid  on  top  of  them;  the  next  section 
of  pipe  is  then  joined  on  and  calked  at  G,  as 
usual, 


PLUMBING  IN   OFFICE  BUILDINGS. 


PLUMBING   IN   THE   METROPOLITAN 
BUILDING. 

(PUBLISHED  IN   1894.) 
PART  I. — GENERAL  DESCRIPTION,  PLANS,  AND   PIPE  LINES. 

THE  Metropolitan  Building,  at  Madison  Square  and 
Twenty-third  Street,  New  York  City,  occupies  an 
area  of  about  120x140  feet  and  rises  10  stories 
above  the  sidewalk.  Several  entire  floors  are 
occupied  by  the  offices  of  the  Metropolitan 
Life  Insurance  Company  and  the  remainder 
is  offered  for  rental  as  business  and  profes- 
sional offices.  The  style  and  proportions  of  the  build- 
ing are  imposing  and  it  is  constructed  and  equipped 
in  accordance  with  the  modern  practice  for  great  of- 
fice buildings.  The  large  interior  court  and  the  cor- 
ner location  promote  the  lighting  and  ventilation, 
and  the  fireproof  construction  and  interior  finish,  high 
ceilings,  light,  abundant  tiling,  and  exposed  metal- 
work  give  an  effective  background  for  the  exposed 
plumbing-work,  especially  in  the  airy  and  commodi- 
ous subbasement,  where  the  pumps,  etc.  are  most 
attractively  set. 

The  plumbing  was  executed  by  contract  by  John 
Tourney  &  Son,  of  New  York,  in  conformity  to  the 
plans  and  specification  of  the  architects,  N.  LeBrun 
&  Sons.  The  system  includes  a  filter  plant,  suction 
tank  supply  to  boilers,  toilet-rooms,  and  washbowls, 
and  elevator  system  and  fire  lines,  besides  the  waste, 
soil,  and  drip  lines  and  trap  ventilation,  in  all  requir- 
ing about  10  miles  of  pipes,  including  22  vertical  sets 
of  fixtures,  most  of  them  with  risers  about  200  feet  in 
extreme  height.  The  soil  pipes  from  closets  and 
urinals  and  a  few  other  fixtures  are  extra-heavy  cast 
iron,  as  are  the  trap  vent  pipes.  All  other  waste  and 
water  pipes  throughout  are  brass,  tinned  inside,  and 
polished  where  exposed  in  toilet-rooms,  etc.  Nearly 
all  closets,  washbowls,  slopsinks,  etc.  are  fitted  up 
with  white  marble  slabs,  white  or  cream  ceramic  tiles, 
oak  cabinet-work,  and  polished  brass  fixtures  and 
trimmings. 

The  soil  and  waste  pipes  serving  each  toilet-room 
aresetjust  below  the  ceiling  of  the  toilet-room  be- 
neath it,  and  all  the  angles  of  the  different  branches 
are  commanded  by  cleaning  screws  at  their  extremi- 
ties. All  riser  lines  are  set  in  recesses  left  for  them 
in  the  exterior  and  partition  walls,  and  are  in  some 
cases  sealed  up  in  plaster  and  in  others  are  accessible 
by  movable  panels.  The  pump  lines,  fire  lines, 
and  distributing  risers  ascend  through  the  ventilator 
exhaust  shaft,  which  also  contains  the  exhaust-Lteam 
pipe  and  elevator  pipes.  As  the  vertical  lines  of 
vent,  soil,  and  waste  pipes  were  completed,  each  was 
successively  tested  with  hydraulic  pressure  of  a  max- 


imum of  100  pounds  by  connecting  the  foot  to  a  tem- 
porary   steam   pump    and  filling  them  with  water. 


lit 


cale  of  R. 


ij 


Horizontal  Diagram, 


•Key 

Soil  Pipe  «== 

Waste  "  

Vent   » 4" 


S.B. 


Linc-U. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


123 


134 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


125 


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AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


cistern,  and  boiler-feed  service  are  interchangeably 
connected,  and  are  used  alternately  so  as  to  keep 
each  one  in  regular  working  order. 

Figure  2  shows  conventionally  the  general  arrange- 
ment of  the  vertical  soil  and  vent  lines,  the  position 
of  the  branches  and  fixtures  being  sometimes  re- 
volved into  a  different  vertical  plane  to  bring  them 
into  side  view.  All  soil  pipes  are  shown  by  double 
lines,  all  waste  pipes  by  full  heavy  lines,  arid  all  trap 
vent  pipes  by  dotted  lines.  A  and  B  are  respectively 
the  lines  for  the  closets  and  washbowls  in  the  princi- 
pal toilet- rooms  (see  Fig.  i,  seventh  story,  p.  210). 
C  and  D  are  lines  serving  the  janitors'  closets,  which 
contain  slopsinks,  basins,  and  water-closets.  I  is  a 
line  direct  for  one  set  of  washbowls,  and  having 
branches  through  the  floor  under  the  doors  to  basins 
in  adjacent  rooms  through  which  no  vertical  pipe 
was  carried.  J  and  N  are  lines  to  office  washbasins 
in  the  upper  floors,  and  P  is  a  line  with  double 
horizontal  offsets  to  avoid  passing  through  a  wide 
open  floor  space  in  the  lower  stories. 


its  main  overflow,  and  exerts  a  pressure  through  E 
that  drives  the  piston  down  in  cylinder  H  and  shuts  off 
steam  until,  the  overflow  clearing,  all  the  water  in  the 
telltale  escapes  and  the  valve  is  opened  by  its  spring. 

Figure  5  shows  the  connection  of  the  pair  of  alter- 
nate pumps  that  lift  the  water  from  the  cistern  to  the 
flush  tank  reservoir  on  the  roof  or  discharge  it  to  the 
sewer.  A  third  pipe  delivers  it  to  the  street  washing 
hose,  which  is  usually  supplied  with  Croton  water  to 
avoid  danger  of  discoloring  the  marble  front.  It  has 
an  automatic  regulating  valve  G  corresponding  to 
that  shown  in  Fig.  4. 

Figure  6  shows  the  arrangement  of  house  tanks  for 
general  purposes  and  for  flushing.  The  flushing 
tank  is  set  a  few  inches  higher  than  the  former  so 
that  its  safe  waste  can  discharge  into  the  pan  of  the 
former.  Both  are  of  the  usual  riveted  boiler-plate 
construction  with  internal  tie-rods,  and  are  intended 
to  be  always  pumped  full,  the  pumps  being  arranged 
to  work  automatically  until  the  water  escapes  through 
the  telltale,  which  is  the  only  provision  for  indicating 


/CntmTarik  for  General 
/  Purposes. 


~  —  ^H-    A°  J5  Fiq-7 

,  j    i.  *rr  ffl 

1*r*  S  I   Juppty/romSf.        Su 

_  HI  'rVfj  t 


Supply  from.  Tank 


Figure  3  shows  the  arrangement  of  the  filter  plant. 
Each  filter  has  a  rated  capacity  ot  1,280  gallons  a 
day,  and  receives  its  supply  through  pipe  A  and 
delivers  it  through  pipe  B.  By  reversing  lever  D 
the  discharge  valve  is  closed,  and  the  filter  is  washed 
until  the  escaping  water  to  the  subdrainage  cistern 
seen  through  glass  C  becomes  clear.  E  is  a  small 
tank  to  contain  alum,  which  can  be  introduced  into 
the  supply  through  pipe  H,  in  proportions  controlled 
by  the  graduated  lever  F.  Figure  4  shows  the  con- 
nection of  one  of  the  duplicate  Worthington  house 
pumps,  the  discharge  of  which  is  also  connected  to 
the  boiler- feed  and  fire-line  pipes.  A  A  A,  etc.  are 
emptying  pipes  which  are  carried  down  below  the 
concrete  floor  and  discharge  into  the  broken  stone 
surrounding  the  cistern,  where  the  subsoil  waters  are 
all  collected.  Ordinarily  all  the  discharge  valves  are 
closed  except  F,  and  the  throttle  valve  is  left  open 
so  that  steam  may  be  freely  admitted  to  valve  G, 
which  is  automatically  controlled  by  the  Ford's  pump 
governor  B,  which  consists  essentially  of  a  piston-rod 
attached  to  the  stem  of  the  gate  valve  and  held  open 
by  a  spring.  When  the  tank  is  full  it  overflows 
through  the  i-inch  telltale  C  just  below  the  level  of 


the  height  of  water.  The  two  tanks  are  entirely  in- 
dependent, and  the  connection  between  them  is 
usually  closed,  but  may  be  opened  to  admit  water 
from  either  tank  into  the  other.  B  is  an  expansion 
pipe  to  relieve  the  hot-water  boiler,  which  can  blow 
off  into  the  tank.  V  V,  etc.  are  vents  to  promote 
the  emptying  of  riser  lines,  and  C  is  a  check  valve 
opening  away  from  the  tank,  to  permit  constant  tank 
pressure  on  the  fire  line  and  to  close  against  direct 
pump  pressure  from  below  and  permit  the  fire  pump 
to  operate  without  wasting  water  through  the  tank. 

Figure  7  shows  the  large  steel  drum,  about  30x50 
inches,  in  the  subbasement,  through  which  all  the 
cold  water  supply  for  the  building  passes  and  is  de- 
livered through  branches  E  and  F  to  horizontal  pipes, 
each  of  which  half  encircles  the  building  and  dis- 
tributes the  water  to  the  different  riser  lines  D  D, 
etc.  These  can  be  independently  cut  off,  and  may 
be  drained  through  pipes  C  C,  etc.  Ordinarily  valve 
A  is  closed  and  B  is  open,  but  in  an  emergency  valve 
A  may  be  opened  and  B  closed  to  shut  off  the  tank, 
and  the  street  water  will  supply  the  system  as  high 
as  its  pressure  limit,  and  the  check  valve  will  prevent 
any  escape  into  the  street  when  it  fluctuates. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


121 


PLUMBING   IN  THE  WAINWRIGHT    BUILD- 
ING, ST.  LOUIS,  MO. 

(PUBLISHED  IN    1894.) 

PART   I. — GENERAL   DESCRIPTION    AND   PLANS  OF   PUMPS, 
TANKS,    BOILER,    AND    PIPE   DETAILS. 

THE  Wainwright  Building  is  a  lo-story  fireproof 
office  structure  situated  at  the  corner  of  Seventh  and 
Chestnut  Streets,  St.  Louis,  Mo.  In  general  dimen- 
sions it  is  about  117x127  feet  and  in  plan  it  is  U- 
shaped,  being  divided  into  one  front  and  two  rear 
sections  by  a  long  open  court  30x75  feet  in  the  rear. 
In  the  basement  are  the  engines,  elevator  machinery, 
plumbing,  heating,  and  power  plant,  and  some  rooms 
available  for  rental.  In  the  attic  are  a  barber  shop 
and  toilet-rooms,  storage  and  pipe  chambers,  and 
janitor's  apartments,  while  the  rest  of  the  building 
is  devoted  to  offices  and  suites  of  offices.  210  in  all. 
Each  office  has  a  washbowl  supplied  with  hot  and 


cold  water,  and  there  are  slopsinks  on  every  floor, 
general  toilet-rooms  in  the  attic,  detached  closets  and 
urinals  in  several  stories,  and  ordinary  kitchen  and 
bathroom  plumbing  in  the  janitor's  apartments.  The 
total  list  of  fixtures  comprises  37  water-closets,  15 
urinals,  226  washbowls,  n  slopsinks,  one  common 
sink  and  one  drip  sink,  two  bathtubs,  and  three 
washtrays.  The  toilet-rooms  and  washbowls  are 
fitted  up  with  nickel-plated  piping,  white  marble  slabs, 
and  polished-oak  cabinet-work.  Main  lines  of  water 
pipes  are  all  of  galvanized  iron,  and  connections  to 
faucets,  traps,  and  vents  are  made  with  lead  branches. 
The  soil  and  vent  pipes  are  subjected  to  a  water- 
pressure  test,  and  the  general  features  and  specifica- 
tions of  the  system  and  workmanship  were  those 
usual  in  standard  modern  practice — exposed  connec- 
tions, accessible  pipe  lines,  careful  trap  and  local 
ventilation,  and  simple  direct  arrangement  and  the 


PLUMBING   IN   THE  WAINWRIGHT  OFFICE  BUILDING,    ST.  LOUIS,    MO. 


128 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


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AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


123 


use  of  very  strong  and  heavy  materials  being  the 
principal  features  of  the  work,  which  was  executed 
on  a  contract  price  of  about  $25,000. 

Water  from  the  street  mains  is  received  through  a 
4-inch  pipe  C,  Fig.  i,  and  passing  through  two  3-inch 
Worthington  meters  A  A  is  delivered  to  the  Jewell 
filter  B,  which  discharges  through  pipe  D  to  the  8x5- 
foot  suction  tank  H,  which  supplies  the  pump 
through  its  suction  pipe  G.  F  is  an  overflow  pipe 
and  I  is  a  water  glass.  A  special  2-inch  meter  L  is 
provided  to  record  the  supply  to  the  steam  boilers 
through  pipe  J.  but  it  can  be  cut  out  and  the  supply 
taken  through  pipe  K. 

Two  duplicate  Smith- Vaile  duplex  pumps  are  con- 
nected to  pipe  G  for  house  and  fire  service  and  are 
cross-connected  with  two  7"x5"xio"  boiler  feedpumps, 
so  that  each  of  the  four  is  available  for  any  part  of 
the  duty.  A  s-inch  fire  line  rises  to  the  roof  in  each 
wing  of  the  building,  and  at  every  floor  has  ico  feet 
of  2  inch  hose  connected  as  shown  in  Fig.  2.  These 
lines  are  under  tank  pressure  through  check  valves 
and  there  is  an  automatic  governor  to  start  the  pump 
whenever  the  pressure  in  them  falls  below  70  pounds. 

The  boiler  feed  pumps  are  controlled  by  automatic 
regulating  valves  operated  by  float  attachments,  and 
the  house  pumps  are  controlled  by  Fisher  gravity 
governors,  both  automatically  regulating  the  supply 
of  steam  so  that  they  will  begin  and  stop  pumping 
when  the  water  reaches  the  required  levels.  The 
suction  and  discharge  headers  of  the  tank  pumps  are 
so  connected  as  to  be  available  for  re-enforcing  the 
elevator  pumps  when  special  service,  such  as  lifting 
safes,  etc.,  is  required.  The  tank  pumps  normally 
discharge  into  a  s.ooo-gallon  iron  roof  tank,  from 
which  a  4-inch  distributing  pipe  is  carried  along  the 
attic  floor  and  supplies  13  vertical  lines  of  i^-inch 
pipe  which  descends  to  the  different  groups  of  fix- 
tures, and  a  separate  2-inch  pipe  that  feeds  a  hot- 
water  boiler  4  feet  in  diameter  and  10  feet  long,  from 
which  a  riser  goes  to  the  attic  and  there  distributes 
downwards  to  a  system  of  vertical  pipes,  supplying 
washbowls,  etc.,  similarly  to  the  above-mentioned 
cold-water  lines,  and  adjacent  to  them.  These  pipes 
have  a  circulation  connection  at  their  bottoms  to  the 
boiler,  and  are  all  accessible  throughout  by  panel 
doors  in  the  walls.  The  boiler  contains  two  1 8-foot 
coils  of  3^-inch  brass  pipe,  so  connected  as  to  be 
supplied  at  will  with  either  live  or  exhaust  steam  to 
heat  the  water. 

Figure  3  is  a  diagram  plan  of  one  of  the  office 
floors,  showing  the  arrangement  of  rooms  and  the 
location  of  washbowls,  which  are  set  in  pairs,  each 


\ 

FIG.  13 

\     r.  -^-Automatic  Urinal- 
L     ;     J                       Fliah  Cistern 

\ 

F 

( 

jUrinali 
f             '"« 

/ 

/' 

( 

\ 

'Standard             " 

Standard 

supplied  by  separate  vertical  pipes.  Local  ventila- 
tion for  all  the  toilet-rooms  is  secured  through 
galvanized:iron  ducts  exhausting  into  an  attic 
chamber,  where  a  25  horse-power  Eddy  electric 
motor  drives  two  steel-cased  go-inch  Buffalo  blowers 
which  discharge  the  foul  air  out  through  the  roof. 

The  ventilating  fans  consist  of  a  duplex  Buffalo 
loo-inch  steel-plate  machine,  which  is  in  reality  two 
loo-inch  pulley  fans,  but  both  driven  by  a  common 
driving  pulley.  These  machines  are  regularly  built 
with  45^-inch  round  inlets  and  37^-inch  square  out- 
lets, the  diameter  of  the  blast  wheel  inside  of -the 
casing  being  71  inches;  width,  35^  inches.  There  is 
also  employed  one  so-inch  Buffalo  upblast  left-hand 
steel  plate  exhauster.  This  machine  has  an  inlet 
24^"  inches  in  diameter  and  a  square  i8^-inch  out- 
let, with  blast  wheel  36  inches  in  diameter  by  17  '/£ 
inches  wide. 

The  soil  pipes  are  all  enlarged  one  size  at  the  top 
and  project  about  3  feet  above  the  roof,  through 
which  they  pass  with  an  expansion  jointed  flashing 
shown  in  Fig.  4,  which  indicates  the  construction 
and  operation  too  clearly  to  need  further  explanation. 
Charles  K.  Ramsey,  of  St.  Louis,  is  the  architect, 
Adler  &  Sullivan,  of  Chicago,  associated.  The 
plumbing  was  installed  by  F.  Abel  &  Co. ,  of  St.  Louis. 


PART  II. — DETAILS  IN 


THE  BARBER 
ROOMS. 


SHOP  AND  TOILET- 


THE  principal  closet  and  toilet- rooms  are  located  in 
the  front  part  of  the  building  on  the  tenth  floor  as 
shown  in  the  plan,  Fig.  5.  Figure  6  is  a  perspective 
sketch  from  P,  Fig.  5.  The  principal  feature  of  the 
plumbing-work  here  is  that  the  pipes  are  arranged 
in  a  special  chamber  between  the  rows  of  closets, 
and  while  shut  off  from  the  public  are  located  con- 
veniently for  the  original  construction  or  for  sub- 


ELEVATION  AT  V-V. 


eZoje&t 
PLUMBING  IN  THE  WAINWRIGHT  OFFICE  BUILDING,   ST.   LOUIS,   MO. 


ISO 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


sequent  work  and  cleaning,  and  are  exposed  and  ac- 
cessible, besides  being  directly  and  systematically 
arranged.  The  main  soil  and  vent  pipes  are  of  cast 
iron,  and  all  connections  are  with  lead  branches 
soldered  to  brass  ferrules.  Figure  7  is  a  diagram  of 
the  pipe  lines,  omitting  the  ventilating  pipe  or  duct, 
and  showing  the  trap  vent  pipe  a  little  displaced  to 
separate  it  from  the  soil  pipe,  which  is  really  exactly 
beneath  it.  Figure  8  is  a  vertical  transverse  section 
through  the  pipe  chamber  at  V  V,  Fig.  7.  Figure  9 
is  a  corresponding  longitudinal  section  at  S  S. 
Figure  10  is  a  plan  and  section  at  Q  Q.  Figure  n 
is  a  section  at  R  R  to  show  the  connection  of  the 
trap  vent  and  soil-pipe  connections  from  the  pairs  of 
closets.  Figure  12  is  a  section  at  Z  Z  to  show  the 
pipe  frames  supporting  the  main  trap  vent  pipe  V. 
Figure  13  is  an  elevation  diagram  from  V  V  showing 
the  arrangement  of  urinal  pipes  on  the  back  of  the 
marble  slab  N,  Fig.  5.  The  cistern  is  set  to  flush 
automatically  every  15  minutes  during  the  daytime, 
and  the  pipes  are  dimensioned  so  as  to  give  equal 
supply  to  each  of  the  urinals.  Figure  14  is  a  plan 
of  the  ventilation  duct  for  exhausting  the  foul  air. 


PIPE   SYSTEMS  AND   PRESSURE   TESTS   IN 
THE  HAVEMEYER  BUILDING. 

(PUBLISHED  IN  i8qz.) 
PART   I. — GENERAL   PLAN   AND   ELEVATIONS. 

THE  Havemeyer  Building,  situated  at  Cortlandt, 
Dey,  and  Church  Streets,  New  York  City,  for  busi- 
ness purposes,  is  an  iron-frame  building  occupying  an 
area  over  200x80  feet,  and  it  is  provided  with  a  very 
extensive  water  supply,  drainage,  and  trap  ventila- 
tion system  for  16  stories,  exclusive  of  roof  drains 
and  subbasement.  We  precede  a  comprehensive  de- 
tailed statement  of  some  interesting  features  of  an 
unusually  severe  and  prolonged  pressure  test  now 
being  executed  by  the  contractors  by  the  accompany- 
ing general  drawings  of  the  architect,  George  B. 
Post.  These  are  of  interest  as  showing  the  character 
of  the  work,  its  classification  and  concentration  into 
distinct  groups  of  fixtures  and  lines,  the  proportions 
adopted  for  the  varying  services  and  the  develop- 
ment of  the  system. 

Figure  i  is  a  diagram  plan  of  the  basement,  and 
Figs.  2  and  3  are  diagram  elevations  of  the  riser  lines 
on  the  main  walls,  corresponding  to  the  black  circles 
in  Fig.  i,  which  indicate  riser  pipes.  Three  of  these 
pipes  are  here  shown  in  each  group,  which  actually 
embraces  four  or  five,  the  additional  parallel  galvan- 
ized-iron  pipes  for  hot  and  cold  water  supply  being 
omitted  for  sake  of  clearness. 

PART    II  — DISTRIBUTION  DRUMS  AND    DETAILS   OF    PRESS- 
URE  TESTS. 

FIGURE  4  is  a  diagram  of  the  distribution  tanks  at 
C,  Fig.  i.  D  and  E  are  for  cold  water  under  street 
and  tank  pressure  respectively,  and  F  is  for  hot  water 
under  tank  pressure.  T  is  the  roof  tank. 

Figure  5  is  a  diagram  showing  the  connections  by 
which  either  or  both  supplies  may  be  put  in  service. 
In  construction  the  rising  lines  were  started  at  the 
basement  floor  about  12  feet  above  their  connections 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


131 


•with  the  sewer  under  the  cellar  floor,  and  a  system  of 
horizontal  pipes  connecting  their  bottoms,  was  con- 
nected to  the  house  pump  temporarily  set  tip  for  the 
purpose.  As  each  story  in  height  was  successively 
added  to  all  the  lines  they  were  pumped  full  of 
water,  which  was  allowed  to  remain  there  till  another 
section  was  set  and  filled,  and  so  on  till  when  the 
final  height  of  about  200  feet  had  been  reached  the 
bottom  sections  had  been  under  a  continually  increas- 
ing pressure  for  perhaps  six  weeks.  Then  the  City 
Inspector  was  called  to  inspect  the  work.  This 
severe  test  was  made  in  this  manner  by  the  con- 
tractors, Byrne  &  Tucker,  for  their  own  satisfaction 
and  to  facilitate  the  prompt  discovery  of  any  imper- 
fection of  material  developed  by  the  pressure,  and 
it  proved  satisfactory  to  them. 


Figure  6  shows  the  pump  P  connected  up  for  the 
pressure  test.  B  is  its  suction  from  a  reservoir  C 
supplied  by  independent  connections  D  and  E  from 
the  city  mains  on  Dey  and  Cortlandt  Streets  respec- 
tively. The  discharge  pipe  F  delivers  into  systems 
of  pipes  supplied  by  G  on  the  basement  ceiling,  and 
H  H  under  the  basement  floor,  which  together  con- 
nect as  at  K,  Fig.  6,  with  all  the  vertical  rising  lines 
shown  in  Figs.  2  and  3.  System  G  is  formed  of  the 
drip  and  emptying  pipes  provided  for  the  risers, 
though  they  are  in  some  instances  moved  from  their 
final  permanent  positions.  Pipes  H  and  H  are  per- 
manent tank-pressure  distribution  mains,  and  S  S  are 
street-pressure  mains.  L  is  an  emptying  pipe. 

Figure  7  shows  the  connection  of  test  pressure  pipe 
A  to  the  riser  lines  D  D  D.  A  and  B  are  here  the 


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PIPE    SYSTEMS   IN   THE   HAVEMEYER   BUILDING,    NEW    YORK    CITY. 


132 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


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PIPE   SYSTEMS   IN   THE   HAVEMEYER   BUILDING,    NEW   YORK    CITY. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


133 


permanent  supply  and  riser  lines  for  cold  water  and 
remain  permanently  as  shown  after  pipes  F  F  F  are 
disconnected  and  the  tee  E  is  closed.  Eventually 
lines  D  D  D  are  continued  to  the  sewer,  and  separ- 


ate tests  are  to  be  made  of  these  additional  joints 
and  those  at  the  fixtures. 

Figure  8  shows  the  method  of  connecting  pressure 
test  pipe  T  by  screwing  it  into  the  cap  C,  which 


(Section  of  Basement  F/oor, 


ENGINEERING 


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PIPE   SYSTEMS   AND    PRESSURE   TESTS    IN    THE   HAVEMEYER   BUILDING. 


134 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


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AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


screws  into  wrought-iron  riser  R,  and  Fig.  9  shows 
the  method  of  connecting  test  pipe  T  to  .he  cast 
socket  S,  which  is  calked  on  the  cast-iron  riser  C. 

PART     III.  —  ARRANGEMENT     OF     METERS,     SUCTION-TANK 
PUMPS,  AND   DISTRIBUTION   TANK. 

THE  water  supply  for  the  building  is  received 
through  two  4-inch  pipes  A  A,  Fig.  10,  one  of  which 
is  supplied  from  the  regular  city  distribution  main, 
and  the  other  from  a  special  street  fire  line.  All  the 
water  passes  through  the  4-inch  Worthington  meters 
C  C,  which  deliver  through  the  4-inch  pipe  D.  Ordi- 
narily valves  E  and  F  are  closed  and  G  and  H  are 
open,  so  that  the  suction  tank  L  is  filled  through  the 
2-inch  branch  I  and  ball  cock  K,  and  the  pumps  draw 
through  the  4-inch  suction  pipe  J  and  branch  M,  but 
by  closing  H  and  opening  F  the  suction  is  through 
J,  direct  from  the  meter  pipe  D.  If  valve  F  is  closed 
and  E  opened  the  suction  tank  will  be  filled  direct 
from  the  meters  without  reference  to  the  ball  cock. 
N  is  a  separate  2-inch  supply  to  the  cellar  distribution 
tanks,  O  is  a  4-inch  overflow,  and  P  is  a  ij^-inch 
emptying  pipe  which,  together  with  O,  discharges 
into  one  of  the  3-inch  pipes  Q  Q  which  carry  the 
cellar  drainage,  drips,  etc.  to  the  iron  tank  R,  Fig. 
ii,  which  is  about  7  feet  in  diameter  and  30  inches 
deep,  and  is  set  several  feet  below  the  level  of  the 
street  sewer  into  which  its  contents  are  periodically 
pumped  through  the  aVa-inch  suction  pipe  S  of  a 
steam  pump.  A  2-inch  pipe  T  is  connected  with  the 
exhaust  head  above  the  roof  and  brings  its  condensa- 
tion water  to  the  tank;  its  i^-inch  branch  U  serves 
as  a  vent  opening  at  the  cellar  ceiling.  The  tank  is 
tightly  closed  by  the  manhole  cover  V,  which  is  ac- 
cessible through  the  cast-iron  well  W,  the  cover-plate 
X  of  which  is  set  flush  with  the  cellar  floor. 

Figure  12  shows  the  connection  of  the  6"x4"x6" 
Worthington  pumps,  one  of  which  H  is  for  the  house 


D  DO   3 


and  roof  tank  and  the  other  B  is  for  the  boiler  ser- 
vice. Their  supply  is  through  the  4-inch  pipe  J,  as 
described  in  Fig.  10,  and  the  suction  branches  K  K 
and  their  delivery  through  pipes  C  and  D.  Ordinarily 
valves  E  and  F  are  closed  and  G  and  I  are  open  so 
that  pump  H  delivers  through  branch  L  to  the  4-inch 
roof-tank  pipe  A,  and  pump  B  delivers  through 
branch  M  to  the  boiler  feed  supply  pipe  N  but  by 
closing  valve  E  and  opening  G  pump  H  will  deliver 
through  branch  P  to  the  boilers,  and  by  closing  valve 
I  and  opening  F,  pump  B  will  deliver  through  branch 
O  to  the  tank.  Q  is  an  air  chamber,  and  S  S  S  S  are 
steam  pipes. 

Figure  13  shows  a  perspective  of  the  distribution 
tanks  or  drums  whose  connections  have  been  devel- 
oped from  the  original  preliminary  arrangement  of 
two  of  them  shown  in  Fig.  5.  The  three  vertical 
cylindrical  galvanized  iron  tanks  are  respectively  T, 
200  gallons,  cold,  tank  pressure;  S,  200  gallons,  cold, 
street  pressure;  and  H,  150  gallons,  hot.  tank  press- 
ure. A  is  the  4-inch  supply  pipe  from  the  roof  tank 
with  2-inch  branches  B  B,  N  is  the  2-inch  supply 
from  street  mains,  as  shown  in  Fig.  10.  C  is  the  2- 
inch  emptying  pipe.  E  and  E  are  ^-inch  steam  and 
exhaust  pipes  to  the  4-inch  brass  steam  heating  coil 
inside  tank  H.  D  and  D  are  ^-inch  hot- water  return- 
circulation  pipes  from  the  systems  in  the  north  and 
south  sections  of  the  building  respectively.  All  the 
other  pipes  shown  are  i^-inch  hot  and  cold  water 
supply  pipes  to  different  parts  of  the  distribution 
system  as  follows:  Cold  water,  I  and  J  to  the  basins, 
flush  tanks,  etc.  in  the  north  section;  L  and  M,  the 
same  to  the  south  sections;  K  and  R  to  the  suction 
tank  of  the  elevator  pumps;  O  to  the  barber  shop 
and  bathtubs;  P  to  the  south  and  Q  to  the  north 
section;  U  to  the  basement  toilet-room.  The  hot- 
water  supplies  are:  V  to  barber  shop  and  bathtubs, 
W  to  slopsinks,  and  X  to  the  restaurant.  Z  Z  Z  Z, 


_  /-J 


PIPE    SYSTEMS    AND    PRESSURE   TESTS   IN    THE    HAVEMEYER    BUILDING,    NEW    YORK    CITY 


136 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


etc.  is  a  pipe  frame  supporting  the  tanks.  Tanks  T 
and  H  are  always  under  pressure  from  the  roof  tank, 
and  tank  S  is  normally  under  street  pressure,  but  it 
also  may  be  placed  under  tank  pressure  by  closing 
valve  G  and  opening  F.  The  supply  pipes  are  com- 
manded by  valves  Y  Y,  etc.,  which  are  connected  to 
the  tops  of  right  and  left  nipples  which  can  be  un- 
screwed so  as  to  disconnect  any  riser  from  its  hori- 


/ifStorr  Oec/i  #0e,j» 


&  Stor 


//&  Starr 


*   for* 


*     6&  Storr 


3  &  Story 


^  Stor 


zontal  branch  into  the  tank,  without  moving  or  dis- 
turbing any  other  connection. 


PLUMBING   DETAILS    IN   THE  MECHANICS 
BANK  BUILDING. 

(PUBLISHED  IN   1890.) 

THIS  building,  at  33  Wall  Street,  New  York  City, 
is  designed  for  an  office  building  and  to  accommodate 
the  Mechanics'  Bank,  which  occupies  all  of  the  first 
floor.  The  building  is  about  30  feet  front  by  70  deep 
and  is  nine  stories  high,  exclusive  of  basement  and 
janitor's  apartme  nts  on  the  roof. 


PLUMBING  IN  MECHANICS'  BANK  BUILDING,  NEW  YORK. 

The  plumbing  includes  the  following  fixtures:  One 
basement  toilet-room  for  the  bank  employees,  con- 
taining four  water- closet  sinks,  three  urinals,  and  five 
washbasins.  One  private  toilet-rcom  on  the  first  Moot; 
for  the  bank  officers,  containing  one  water-closet,  one 
bathtub,  one  washbasin,  and  one  urinal.  One  gen- 
eral toilet-room  on  the  ninth  floor  that  contains 
eight  water-closets,  three  urinals,  and  one  washbasin. 
On  the  flour  there  is  a  ladies'  toilet-room  containing 
three  water-closets  and  one  washbasin. 

The  eighth  floor  has  a  small  toilet-room  with  one 
washbasin,  and  there  is  a  slopsink  on  every  floor 
above  the  basement,  and  on  each  floor  from  the 
second  to  the  seventh  inclusive  there  is  a  toilet-room, 
one  water-closet,  one  washbasin,  and  one  urinal. 
The  janitor's  apartments  contain  one  bathtub,  one 
water  closet,  one  washbasin,  one  pantry  sink,  one 
kitchen  sink,  and  13  tray  laundry  tubs.  In  the  base- 
ment  engine-room  are  the  hot  and  cold-water  distri- 
bution drums,  a  dripsink,  and  water-closet. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


137 


138 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


Figure  i  shows  the  distribution  system  of  the  base- 
ment near  the  pumps.  Y  is  the  cold  and  Z  is  the  hot 
water  drum,  each  about  2x5  feet,  made  of  galvanized 
iron  and  supported  by  the  gas-pipe  table  X  X,  etc  , 
set  in  the  footing  of  the  foundation  walls.  The  drum 
Z  contains  a  2^-inch  pipe  a,  supplied  with  live  or 
exaust  steam  through  a  pipe  S . 

The  arrangement  of  the  pipe  a  is  similar  to  that 
made  by  Byrne  &  Tucker  for  the  Mills  and  the  Dun- 
can Buildings  in  New  York,  described  respectively 
on  p.  203,  Vol.  VI.,  and  p.  296,  Vol.  VIII.,  of  THE 
ENGINEERING  RECORD.  The  pipe  S  passes  through 
a  stuffing-box  b,  and  is  screwed  into  a  wrought-iron 
head  plate  that  is  welded  into  the  top  of  the  pipe  a. 
The  return  steam  pipe  .y  is  screwed  into  a  hollow 
rivet  that  is  cast  on  the  bottom  of  the  cap  c  that  is 
screwed  into  the  bottom  of  the  boiler  and  tapped  to 
receive  the  pipe  a.  The  stuffing-box  permits  the  pipe 
S  to  slide  back  and  forth  through  it  with  the  expan- 
sion movement,  which  is  taken  up  by  the  spring  of 
the  horizontal  branch  S  S.  The  large  pipe  a  is  used 
instead  of  the  usual  steam  coil  to  prevent  noise  when 
the  full  head  of  steam  is  turned  on,  and  to  heat  the 
water  rapidly.  Cold  water  under  tank  pressure  is 
received  through  the  2-inch*  pipe  C  and  supplied  to 
the  distributing  drums  through  branches  W  and  W. 
Q  is  a  ij^-inch  pipe  supplying  water  under  street 
pressure.  Ordinarily  its  valve  V  is  closed,  but  by 
opening  it  the  drums  Y  and  Z  may  be  filled  directly 
from  the  street  mains,  or  the  basement  fixtures, 
which  are  branched  from  Q,  may  be  supplied  from 
the  tank. 

Cold  water  is  distributed  through  the  building  from 
the  drum  Y  through  the  i  J^-inch  pipe  D  and  the  i- 
inch  pipes  E,  F,  and  G  to  different  lines  ot  wash- 
basins, and  through  the  i-inch  pipes  N,  O,  and  P  to 
the  various  flushing  cisterns. 

Hot  water  is  delivered  from  the  drum  Z  through  the 
2^-inch  pipe  R  to  the  engine-room  sink  and  through 
the  i  J^-inch  pipe  A  to  all  the  slopsinks  and  to  the 
officers'  toilet-room.  B  is  a  ^-inch  return-circulation 
pipe,  H  is  a  2-inch  safe  waste  from  the  roof  tank,  and 
I,  J,  K,  and  M  are  i-inch  safe  wastes  from  the  toilet - 
rooms.  L  is  a  2  inch  delivery  pipe  from  the  pumps 
to  the  roof  tank.  V  is  a  drip  pipe  through  which  all 
the  rising  lines  may  be  drained  by  opening  their 
cocks  T  T,  etc.  The  drums  Y  and  Z  may  also  be 
drained  into  it  through  their  emptying  pipes  U  U. 

Figure  2  shows  the  roof  tank,  built  of  ^f-inch  iron 
plate  and  2X2-inch  angles  with  ^j.inch  tie-rods  A  A, 
arid  tee-bar  stiffeners  B  B,  etc.  The  tank  is  filled 
through  the  2-inch  pump  pipe  G,  overflows  directly 
upon  the  tiled  roof  through  the  3-inch  pipe  D  and 
may  be  emptied  also  directly  upon  the  roof  through 
the  i  j^-inch  pipe  E.  F  is  a  3-inch  fire  line  .vith  hose 
couplings  on  every  floor.  C  is  the  2-inch  supply  pipe 
to  the  distributing  drums  Y  and  Z  (Fig.  i),  H  is  a  i^- 
inch  supply  pipe  direct  to  the  janitor's  apartments,  and 
I  is  a  2-inch  supply  pipe  direct  to  the  ninth- floor  toilet- 
room.  K  K  K  are  vent  pipes  to  facilitate  the  dis- 
charge of  all  the  water  in  the  supply  lines  C,  H,  and 
I,  after  their  valves  J  J  J  are  closed.  L  is  a  vent 

*The  sizes  given  for  pipes  are  correct  but  the  sketch  is  not 
drawn  to  scale. 


pipe  from  the  hot- water  drum  Z,  Fig.  i.  M  is  a  float 
whose  chain  N  operates  the  index  of  the  tank  gauge 
in  the  pump-room.  The  float  M  is  made  of  a  butler's 
pantry  copper  sink  with  a  sheet  of  copper  tightly 
soldered  over  the  top. 

Figure  3  is  a  diagram  of  the  ninth-floor  toilet- room, 
which  is  about  12  feet  wide  by  22  long,  and  contains 
eight  water-closet  sinks,  three  urinals,  and  one  wash- 
basin. It  has  a  tiled  floor,  oil-finished  woodwork, 
and  white  marble  wainscot  and  panels  A  A,  etc. 
The  irregular  shape  of  the  room  made  it  necessary  to 
arrange  the  urinals  as  shown,  two  of  them,  U  U, 
placed  back,  to  back  opposite  the  entrance  and 
screened  by  a  y-foot  marble  slab  B.  C  is  a  marble 
safe. 

Figure  4  shows  the  suspended  horizontal  boiler  in 
the  janitor's  kitchen.  Cold  water  is  received 
through  the  pipe  C  and  hot  water  through  the  pipe 
H;  the  branch  B  supplies  the  kitchen  sink  and  the 
branch  A  supplies  the  laundry  tubs,  bathroom,  etc. 
The  janitor's  bathroom  is  finished  with  unusual 
elegance,  having  marble  washbasin  table,  royal 
porcelain  bathtub,  ivory-finished  water-closet,  and 
nickel-plated  exposed  brass  pipes.  The  floor  and 
wainscot  are  finished  with  white  and  tinted  ceramic 
tiles. 

Figure  5  shows  the  dripsink  S  in  the  engine-room. 
It  is  supported  on  pieces  of  i-inch  gas  pipe  A  A, 
leaded  into  the  footing  of  the  foundation  wall  over 
which  it  is  set  so  as  not  to  occupy  much  floor  space. 
An  adjacent  water-closet  at  B  is  also  arranged  so  as 
to  be  convenient  for  the  firemen,  etc.,  and  not  take 
up  unnecessary  floor  space.  Q  is  the  drip  pipe  from 
the  roof- tank  safe,  and  H,  I,  J,  K,  and  M  are  drip 
pipes  from  the  toilet-room  safe  wastes.  R  is  the  hot 
and  Q  the  cold  supply  (Fig.  i).  N  N  are  safe  wastes, 
P  is  a  trap  vent  pipe,  and  O  is  the  drip  pipe  from  the 
steam  radiators. 

C.  W.  Clinton,  of  New  York,  was  the  architect  of 
this  building,  and  Byrne  &  Tucker,  also  of  New 
York,  did  the  plumbing 


PLUMBING  IN  THE  UNION   TRUST  COM- 
PANY'S BUILDING. 

(PUBLISHED  IN  1890.) 

PART   1. — ROOF,    SUCTION,  AND     DRIP    TANKS    AND     PUMP 
CONNECTIONS. 

THE  Union  Trust  Company's  new  building  on 
Broadway,  New  York  City,  is  about  100  feet  front. 
120  feet  deep,  and  has  13  stories  above  the  basement. 
It  is  designed  to  accommodate  a  bank  on  the  first 
floor  and  the  offices  of  the  Union  Trust  Company  on 
the  second  floor,  while  the  upper  floors  are  fitted  for 
offices;  a  restaurant,  kitchen,  etc.,  being  built  on  the 
main  roof. 

The  plumbing  comprises,  in  general,  the  hot  and 
cold  water  supply  to  the  toilet-rooms  and  to  basins  in 
all  office  rooms,  and  the  drainage  from  all  fixtures. 
The  most  of  the  water  is  pumped  through  the  4-inch 
pipe  A,  Fig.  i,  to  the  iron  roof  tank  T,  that  is  about 
14  feet  square  and  8  feet  6  inches  deep,  and  is  closed 
by  iron  plates  over  the  top.  The  tank  rests  or 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


139 


wooden  sills  B  B  B,  laid  in  a  sheet-iron  lined  safe  S, 
which  is  supported  by  wooden  beams  C  C  C,  resting 
on  the  floor  directly  under  the  sills  B  B  B.  The  tank 
overflows  through  a  4-inch  pipe  D  to  the  roof  gutter, 
and  may  be  emptied,  also  to  the  roof  gutter,  through 
a  key  valve  E  and  a  2-inch  pipe  F.  H  is  a  2-inch 
supply  pipe  to  the  eighth  and  ninth  floor  toilet- rooms, 
and  G  is  a  4-inch  supply  pipe  to  the  distribution 
drums  in  the  cellar.  I  I  are  i-inch  vent  pipes  to  the 
pipes  G  and  H.1  J  is  a  vent  pipe  from  the  hot-water 
system,  and  L  is  the  i^-inch  safe  waste,  discharging 
on  the  roof.  M  is  a  wire  cable  from  the  tank  float 
operating  the  index  of  the  indicator  in  the  pump- 
room 

Water  under  street  pressure  is  delivered  through  a 
2-inch  pipe  A,  Fig.  2,  and  ball  cock  B  to  the  closed 
iron  suction  tank  C,  about  5x5  feet,  that  is  in  the 
cellar  near  the  pumps.  This  tank  overflows  through 
a  4-inch  pipe  D,  which  has  a  trap  with  a  24-inch  seal 
that  is  preserved  by  the  constant  discharge  from  the 
steam  drip  pipe  I.  E  is  a  valve  for  emptying  the 
tank  F  and  G  are  ij^-inch  pipes  to  empty  the 
pump  delivery  to  the  tank  and  the  4-inch  supply 
pipe  from  the  tank  to  the  distribution  drums.  H  is 
the  4- inch  suction  pipe  to  the  pumps. 

Figure  3  shows  the  connections  of  the  special  tank 
pump  A  and  one  of  the  boiler  pumps  B.  H  is  the 
4-inch  suction  pipe  from  the  tank  C,  Fig.  2,  with  a 
branch  E  to  the  pump  B.  D  is  the  4-inch  delivery 
pipe  to  the  roof  tank  with  a  branch  F  from  the  pump 
B.  G  is  a  2-inch  branch  connected  with  the  delivery 
pipe  of  another  steam  pump,  generally  used  for  the 
steam  boilers.  Ordinarily  the  valves  M  and  N  are 
open,  while  I  is  closed,  and  the  tank  is  filled  by  the 


pump  A;  but  if  the  valves  I,  K,  and  L  are  open  the 
pump  B  can  also  be  turned  to  the  tank,  and  by  open- 
ing the  valve  J  the  third  pump  may  also  be  used  for 
the  tank  in  case  of  fire  or  in  any  other  emergency. 

Figure  4  shows  the  cellar  drip  tank  A,  which  is 
simply  an  iron  shell  about  6  feet  long  and  30  inches 
in  diameter,  to  receive  the  overflow  from  the  suction 
tank  C,  Fig.  i,  the  waste  from  emptying  the 
pipes  of  the  distribution  drums,  discharge  from  drip- 
sinks  and  cellar  drainage,  all  of  which  is  below  the 


PLUMBING  IN  THE  UNION  TRUST   COMPANY'S  BUILDING,    NEW   YORK   CITY* 


140 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


street  sewer  level.  B  is  a  collector  from  the  waste 
pipes  of  the  floor  strainers  I  I,  etc.,  and  the  drip- 
sinks.  C  is  the  emptying  pipe  from  the  distribution 
drums,  and  D  is  the  emptying  pipe  from  the  tank  C, 
Fig.  2.  E  is  an  aspirator  to  which  steam  can  be 
admitted  through  the  valve  F  to  produce  suction  and 
draw  the  contents  of  the  tank  A  out  through  pipe  G, 
which  discharges  through  a  branch  K  to  the  house 
drain  L  that  empties  into  the  street  sewer.  H  is  a 
vent  pipe  to  maintain  atmospheric  pressure  in  the 
tank  A. 

PART    II. — DISTRIBUTION    DRUMS,     SEWER    VENTILATION, 
AND   PIPE   SUPPORTS. 

THE  supply  of  hot  and  cold  water  to  all  parts  of  the 
building  is  controlled  entirely  from  the  distribution 
drums  in  the  cellar,  shown  in  Fig.  5.  They  are  of 
galvanized  steel,  about  5  feet  long;  -v  is  for  hot  water 
under  tank  pressure,  and  b  and  c  for  cold  water  under 
tank  and  street  pressure  respectively.  Tank  water 
is  received  through  the  4-inch  pipe  n  and  its  2-inch 
branch  o.  Water  under  street  pressure  is  received 
through  a  2-inch  branch  q  from  a  4  inch  pipe^  to  the 
suction  tank  C,  Fig.  2.  Live  or  exhaust  steam  is 
delivered  through  a  |^-inch  pipe  I  to  the  2  ^-inch 
pipe  a,  and,  after  heating  the  water  in  the  drum  v, 
escapes  through  a  ^-inch  pipe  s. 

The  pipe  A  is  a  hot-water  i-inch  supply  to  two 
slopsinks,  and  B  is  a  i  J^-inch  supply  to  all  other  slop- 
sinks.  C  and  D  are  i-inch  supply  pipes  to  the 
president's  and  directors'  rooms.  F  is  a  |^-inch  and 
E  and  G  are  ^-inch  hot-water  return-circulation 
pipes  from  the  tops  of  the  lines  B,  C,  and  D,  and  con- 
nect above  its  valve  with  the  sediment  pipe  m  of  the 
drum  v.  The  pipes  H,  J,  K,  and  L  are  i-inch  tank 
cold-water  supplies  to  different  lines  of  washbasins. 
M  is  a  i^-inch  supply  pipe  to  a  group  of  washbasins 
and  urinals,  N  is  a  i^-inch  supply  pipe  to  a  group  of 
basins,  urinals,  and  slopsinks,  and  O,  P,  Q,  and  R  are 
i-inch  supply  pipes  to  lines  of  washbasins.  S  is  a 
i-inch  supply  pipe  to  the  directors'  room.  T  is  a  i- 
inch  supply  pipe  to  the  president's  room.  U  is  a  il/2- 
inch  cold-water  supply  pipe  under  street  pressure  to 
a  basement  toilet-room,  and  V  is  a  i-inch  supply  pipe 


Hanger* 


to  the  same.  W  is  a  i  l^-inch  supply  to  another 
basement  toilet-room.  Y  is  a  ij^-inch  supply  pipe 
to  the  elevator  tank.  Z  and  d  are  i-inch  supply 
pipes  to  the  front  and  rear  cellar  sinks;  j  is  a  i^- 
inch  by-pass  connecting  the  drums  i>  and  *:,  the  valve 
(k)  of  which  is  usually  closed  to  keep  the  two  systems 
separate,  but  may  be  opened  to  admit  tank  water  to 
the  drum  c  if  the  street  water  is  turned  off.  The 
lines  of  pipe,  W  and  U,  are  generally  supplied  by 
street  pressure,  the  valves  w  and  K  being  open  and 
the  valves  x  and y  closed.  By  reversing  these  valves, 
however,  the  supply  is  under  tank  pressure. 

All  the  rising  lines  may  be  emptied  through  their 
valves  ii,  etc.  into  the  drip  pipe  g  g  that  discharges 
into  the  trap  of  a  5-inch  rainwater  leader  z.  The 
drums  v,  b,  and  c  may  also  be  emptied  by  branches 
m  m  m,  through  the  pipe  g;  1 1,  etc.  are  pipe  legs 
supporting  the  drums;  f  f,  etc.  are  pipe  hangers 
supporting  the  horizontal  lines  from  the  iron  floor 
beams;  p  is  the  4-iiich  pump  delivery  pipe  to  the  roof 
tank. 

Figure  6  shows  the  method  of  supporting  stacks  of 
cast-iron  pipes  from  the  iron  floor  beams  by  the 
welded  iron  strap  S,  carefully  fitted  just  under  the 
hubs. 

Figure  7  shows  the  special  fresh-air  inlet  at  the 
main  sewer  trap.  Each  of  the  main  house  sewers  C  C 
has  a  branch  A  to  a  double  Y  connection  D  at  the 
sidewalk  grating,  and  any  dirt  or  other  obstruction 
can  be  very  readily  removed  through  its  cleaning 
hole  at  B  and  another  at  E  in  the  double  Y  connec- 
tion F  with  the  main  sewer. 

The  plumbing  in  this  building  was  done  by  Byrne 
&  Tucker,  of  New  York  City. 


PLUMBING    IN   THE   PRUDENTIAL    BUILD- 
ING,  NEWARK.  N.  J. 

(PUBLISHED  IN   1804.) 

THE  Prudential  Building  at  Newark,  N.  J.,  is 
located  upon  one  of  the  principal  streets  of  that  city, 
is  perhaps  the  most  prominent  business  structure  in 
the  place,  and  is  a  large  and  thoroughly  equipped 


Front  Elevation  Section 

PLUMBINO   IN   THE   PRUDENTIAL   BUILDING,    NEWARK,   N.    J 


/*  Roof 

S<f  Office  floor 

•i 

TJ!  Of  fice  Floor 

6<*  Office  Floor 

Si!  Off  ice  Floor 

.*.  • 

4<*  Office  Floor 

~i- 

3'.*  Office  Floor 

~i-      S 

^5?  'Office  Flcor 

3 
*   £ 

IV  Office  Floor 

*    1 

•  ..«        4- 

Ctllerv  Floor 

LI 

Prudential  ' 

^ 

f  round  Floor 

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rZ 

Ofilr/tuifMlnnal 

^ 

•ii* 

Diagram  of  Supply  Pipes. 


342 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE, 


modern  office  building.  It  is  owned  by  the  Pruden- 
tial Life  Insurance  Company,  and  is  occupied  by  its 
offices  and  by  tenants.  In  this  building  a  large 
number  of  fixtures  are  supplied  with  water  at  a  con- 
siderable pressure,  and  to  prevent  danger  of  injurious 
water  hammer  when  one  or  more  faucets  may  be 
rapidly  opened  and  closed  simultaneously,  a  special 
provision  for  air  cushioning  was  made  by  Mr.  George 
B.  Post,  of  New  York  City,  the  architect,  which  is 
illustrated  in  the  accompanying  cut,  and  has  been 
successfully  applied  also  in  substantially  similar  cases 
which  have  arisen  in  his  practice.  The  street  and 
tank  pressure  supplies  are  delivered  to  small  tanks 
or  drums  in  the  cellar,  from  which  the  pipes  to  the 
different  riser  lines  diverge.  These  pipes  are  valved 
for  control  at  one  point.  The  drums  are  similar  to 
those  often  used  for  distributing  from  one  or  twr 
mains  to  several  lines,  but  are  of  larger  capacity  and 
are  intended  to  be  always  partly  filled  with  com- 
pressed air  confined  in  the  space  above  the  level  of 
the  outlets  to  the  distributing  pipes.  When  the  sys- 
tem was  installed  the  sediment  cocks  6,6  and  pet- 
cocks  5,5,  were  closed,  thus  confining  the  air  to  the 
drums.  Being  unable  to  escape,  the  air  was  com- 
pressed by  the  inflowing  water  until  it  occupied  the 
upper  parts  of  the  drums  as  shown  in  the  section. 
As  it  exerted  a  uniform  pressure  on  the  water,  it 
acted  as  an  elastic  cushion  for  the  water  and  ab- 
sorbed the  impact  of  shocks.  Ordinarily  valves 
2,  4,  5.5,  6,  and  6  are  closed  and  all  others  are  open, 
but  if  it  should  become  desirable  to  cut  off  street 
pressure,  tank  water  may  be  supplied  throughout  by 
closing  valve  i  and  opening  valves  2  and  4.  Similarly 
street  pressure  can  be  supplied  throughout  by  closing 
valve  3  and  opening  all  the  others.  Should  the  air 
in  the  drums  become  absorbed,  valves  5,5  and  6,6  are 

.•/6OOO  Ga/s. 


opened  and  all  others  shown  are  closed,  when  the 
water  in  the  drums  is  replaced  by  air.  Then  if 
valves  5,5  and  6,6  are  closed  and  i  and  3  are  opened, 
the  air  is  forced  into  the  upper  parts  of  the  drums 
and  the  system  operates  as  before. 

Any  sediment  deposited  in  the  drums  can  be 
cleaned  out  from  time  to  time  by  opening  valves  5,5 
and  6,6,  and  closing  all  the  others,  when  the  man- 
hole covers  may  be  removed  and  the  drums  thor- 
oughly cleaned  and  scrubbed  out,  valves  i  and  3 
being  opened  sufficiently  to  admit  water  for  rinsing 
them,  which  escapes  through  the  sediment  pipe. 


B' 

^    <>- 

/- 

£ 

\ 

£ 

3 

\                     AttTc     Floor 

":;  "  :'. 

Cold 
Hot 

Circulation 
ipX  Waste 


WATER  DISTRIBUTION  IN  THE  MATHEWS  OFFICE  BUILDING    MILWAUKEE,  WIS. 


CONTROL   OF    HOT   AND   COLD-WATER 

DISTRIBUTION  IN  A  MILWAUKEE 

OFFICE  BUILDING. 

(PUBLISHED  IN  1893  ) 

THE  Mathews  Building,  at  Third  and  Grand  Ave- 
nues, Milwaukee,  Wis.,  has  been  erected  for  general 
business  and  office  purposes  at  a  cost  of  about  $200,- 
ooo.  It  is  a  modern  six-story  building  of  iron  and 
brick  fireproof  construction  about  looxnofeetin  size, 
and  92  feet  high  above  the  basement.  It  is  provided 
with  five  toilet  and  water-closet  rooms,  has  slopsinks 
on  every  floor,  fire-hose  cocks  in  each  main  corridor 
and  a  washbasin  with  hot  and  cold  water  supply  in 
each  of  50  suites  of  rooms.  The  plumbing,  which 
was  in  accordance  with  the  requirements  of  architects 
Ferry  &  Clas,  cost  about  $14,000,  and  was  executed 
by  Halsey  Brothers,  of  Milwaukee.  The  work  con- 
forms to  present  standard  practice,  and  is  designed 
to  secure  special  thoroughness  and  simplicity 
throughout. 

The  head  in  the  city  mains  supplies  sufficient  press- 
ure for  the  required  service,  but  an  attic  tank  was 
provided  to  store  a  supply  for  possible  in- 
terruption in  the  street  mains,  for  fire 
purposes  and  to  insure  abundant  supply 
at  those  times  of  the  day  when  the  maxi- 
mum draft  is  made  on  the  mains.  This 
tank  is  filled  through  ball  cock  M,  and 
delivered  through  valve  N  connected  to 
the  separate  rising  pipes  P  and  Q.  It  was 
desirable  to  have  a  simple  and  direct  con- 
nection between  this  pipe  P  and  the  hot- 
water  heater  F  and  the  distribution  risers 
I  I,  etc.,  which  furnish  cold  water  to  the 
different  floors,  and  the  accompanying 
sketch  shows  the  arrangement  designed 
to  distribute  the  water  among  all,  what- 
ever their  respective  drafts  may  be.  Cold 
water  from  the  city  main  is  received 
through  a  check  valve  in  the  3-inch  pipe 
C  and  delivered  to  the  3-inch  header  B, 
which  distributes  it  to  the  i-inch  risers  1 1, 
etc.,  supplying  different  floors.  The  z]^- 
inch  pipe  D  furnishes  cold  water  to  the 
hot- water  boiler  F.  The  tank  riser  P  con- 
nects directly  with  header  B  and  the 
end  of  boiler  feed  D.  G  is  a  2^-inch 
header  for  the  distribution  of  hot  water, 
which  leaves  the  boiler  through  pipe  H  and 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


K3 


returns  through  circulation  pipes  K  K,  etc.,  which 
are  taken  from  the  highest  points  of  the  risers  T  T, 
etc.,  that  supply  the  different  floors.     L  and  N  are 
drip  and  waste  pipes,  V  V,  etc.  are  valves  to  empty 
the  rising  lines,  U  is  a  safety  valve,  W  is  a  catch 
basin,  and  X  X  are  steam  connections  to  the  coil  heat 
ing  the  boiler.     All  the  supplies  are  individually  con 
trolled  by  valves  R  R,  etc.    Usually  valve  O  is  closed, 
and  all  others  except  V  V  V,  etc.  are  open;  but  they 
are  arranged  so  as  to  cut  out  any  part  of  the  system 
for  repairs,  extensions,  etc.  without    affecting   any 
other  part.     The  rising  lines  all  converge  to  ascend 
through  a  vent  shaft  S,  in  which  they  are  accessible 
and,  like  all  the  rest  of  the  plumbing-work  here,  ex- 
posed. 

The  figure  is  prepared  from  a  sketch  made  to  illus- 
trate the  arrangement  and  operation,  and  is  not 
drawn  to  exact  scale  or  position. 


PLUMBING   IN    MANHATTAN    LIFE   INSUR 
ANCE  BUILDING. 

(PUBLISHED  IN  1894.) 

PART  I. — GENERAL  CONDITIONS,  REQUIREMENTS,  AND  FEA- 
TURES OF  THE  SYSTEM,  ARRANGEMENT  AND  OPERA- 
TION. DESCRIPTION  OF  WATER,  DRAINAGE,  AND  TRAP 
VENTILATION  PLANT,  ENUMERATION  OF  PRINCIPAL 
APPARATUS  AND  OUTLINE  OF  ITS  OPERATION, 
METHOD  OF  DISTRIBUTION,  PLANS  OF  PIPE  CELLAR, 
MAIN  SEWER  LINES,  CHARACTERISTIC  OFFICE-FLOOR 
INSTALLATION  AND  DETAIL  OF  PIPE  SHAFT. 

No  PERSON  who  has  been  in  New  York  City  during 
the  winter  of  1893-94  needs  a  labored  explanation  to 
aid  in  identifying  the  Manhattan  Life  Insurance 
Building  as  the  lofty  structure  which  towers  above 
the  finial  of  Trinity  Church  steeple,  just  across  Broad- 
way, and  the  building,  which  is  remarkable  even  in 
an  era  of  tall  structures,  has  been  made  familiar 
through  the  medium  of  illustrations  to  all  who  are 
interested  in  architectural  development.  The  pneu- 
matic caissons  and  other  details  of  the  foundation 
were  described  in  THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD  of 
January  20,  1894.  The  building  is  about  120x67  feet 
in  size,  has  a  height  of  over  300  feet  from  the  cellar 
floor  to  the  main  roof,  and  has  19  stories  devoted  to 
the  uses  of  the  Insurance  Company,  to  tenants' 


offices,  and  to  the  operating  plant  and  equipment. 
It  has  a  complete  system  of  plumbing  and  drainage 
conforming  to  the  requirements  of  Messrs.  Kimball 
&  Thompson,  the  architects  of  the  building,  and  Mr. 
William  Paul  Gerhard,  consulting  engineer  for  san- 
itary work,  which  was  installed  by  J.  W.  Knight  & 
Son,  contractors,  under  the  supervision  of  Mr.  Ger- 
hard. 

The  system  comprises  a  supply  of  Croton  or  artesian- 
well  water  in  every  toilet- room  throughout  the  build- 
ing and  for  fire  service,  steam-heated  hot  water  to  slop- 
sinks,  and  the  drainage  and  ventilation  of  all  water, 
soil,  and  drip  lines.  Water  through  the  city  mains 
is  received  through  a  4-inch  pipe,  meter,  and  gate 
valve  and  discharged  in  the  cellar  through  two  2-inch 


««-"•.  EIGHTH  FLOOR, 


Scale  effect, 


ball  cocks  into  a  2,ooo-gallon  open  iron  suction  tank 
I2'9"x7'4",  set  on  brick  foundations  and  provided  with 
hinged  wooden  cover.  This  tank  has  emptying  and 
overflow  pipes  and  a  supply  to  the  suction  pipes  of  all 
the  pumps,  three  of  which  are  for  house  and  fire 
service,  two  for  the  elevators,  and  two  for  the  boiler 
feed  water,  the  house  and  feed  pumps  being  inter- 
changeably connected.  The  house  pumps  lift  the 
water  about  300  feet  into  a  boiler-iron  5,000  gallon 
house  tank  ii'6"x8'x7'6".  From  this  tank  i^-inch 
riser  lines  supply  the  distribution  branches  to  the 
washbowls  on  each  floor  above  the  seventh,  and  a  2- 
inch  pipe  supplies  the  steam  hot-water  heater  in  the 
cellar.  A  4-inch  line  also  supplies  an  auxiliary  2,000- 
gallon  tank  on  the  eighth  floor,  which  is  filled  through 
ball  cocks  and  connected  with  a  drum  in  the  cellar, 
from  which  risers  lead  to  all  the  fixtures  on  the 


A-Blor,  off  Tan/,.    B-Hot  Hater  Heater.  C-Distn'bution  Drums.    D-3'/z  >S' Fire  Pump.  E-Tank  Pump.. 
,  f-Keturn^Pump  .J£-  Feet/.  Pump*.  H-  Sewer  Pump .  J-  Suction  Tank  .  A/I  Pipes  Corr/et/on Cft/tjr  Ce/7/np, 

PLUMBING    IN    THE    MANHATTAN    LIFE    INSURANCE    BUILDING,    NEW    YORK    CITY. 


144 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


second,  third,  fourth,  fifth,  sixth,  seventh,  and  mezza- 
nine floors.  These  are  controlled  from  one  central 
point  and  are  subjected  to  a  pressure  much  less  than 
would  be  imposed  by  direct  communication  with  the 
roof  tank.  Adjacent  to  this  distributing  drum  in  the 
cellar  is  another  one  which  is  connected  directly  with 
the  street  pressure  and  delivers  it  to  riser  lines  sup- 
plying all  fixtures  on  and  below  the  first  floor. 

A  6-inch  artesian  well  2,000  feet  deep  has  been 
drilled  in  the  cellar,  and  water  from  it  is  delivered 
by  a  separate  pump  to  a  roof  tank,  the  counterpart 
of  the  one  described  for  the  Croton  water,  and  sup- 
plies all  the  water-closet  and  urinal  flushing  cis- 
terns direct  to  vile  eighth  floor,  and  from  an  auxiliary 
tank  below  the  eighth  floor,  thus  effecting  a  consid- 
erable economy  of  metered  water  purchased.  The 
roof  tanks  and  the  eighth-floor  tanks  for  street  and 
artesian  water  and  the  distributing  drums  in  the 
cellar  for  street  and  tank  pressure  are  respectively 
cross-connected  so  that  either  or  both  may  be  sup- 
plied from  either  source.  All  riser  lines  are  valved 
at  their  bottoms,  and  each  horizontal  branch  is  sep- 
arately valved.  All  the  hot  water  is  under  full  roof- 
tank  pressure. 

A  separate  3-inch  riser  extends  from  the  cellar  to 
the  roof  tank  and  has  valves  and  hose  on  every  floor 
for  fire  protection.  It  is  under  constant  tank  and 
pump  pressure  and  has  check  valves  to  prevent  the 
escape  of  water  at  increased  pressure.  The  two 
Worthington  duplex  steam  house  pumps  each  has 
6-inch  steam  cylinder,  5-inch  water  cylinder,  i2-inch 
stroke,  and  a  capacity  of  100  gallons  per  minute,  and 
are  connected  to  draw  from  the  suction  tank  or  from 
the  Croton  main  direct  and  to  deliver  either  into  the 
roof  tank  or  to  boiler  feed  pipes.  The  boiler  feed 
pumps  are  similarly  connected.  The  house  pumps 
are  fitted  with  sight  feed  lubricators  and  Fisher's 
automatic  regulating  attachment  to  start  them  when- 
ever the  tank  water  falls  below  a  certain  level.  The 
height  of  water  in  the  tanks  is  also  indicated  in  the 
engine-room  by  an  electric  alarm  operated  by  high 
and  low  water  floats. 

The  fire  pump  is  a  Worthington  new  pattern  "Un- 
derwriters' fire  pump,"  with  steam  cylinder  14  inches 


in  diameter,  water  cylinder  7  inches  in  diaraeter, 
length  of  stroke  12  inches,  and  a  nominal  capacity  of 
500  gallons  per  minute,  equal  to  two  i^-inch  fire 
streams  at  250  gallons  per  minute  each.  This  pump 
is  built  strictly  and  entirely  in  accordance  with  the 
specifications  for  underwriters'  pumps,  as  adopted  by 
the  Boston  Manufacturers'  Mutual  Fire  Insurance 
Company,  of  Boston,  and  is  fitted  up  with  all  the  at- 
tachments, fittings,  etc.,  therein  described,  and  im- 
proved polished-brass  sight-feed  lubricators.  This 
pump  is  connected  with  the  3-inch  fire  stand-pipe, 
and  has  an  automatic  regulating  device  for  starting 


Vault  Shaft   V. 
I/Vires  Ropes  &c 


\J.      ^<f     'V./'    f.^=f-    "aj  '  'f 

\          ,,.        •3"^orr,8'hSlory  Tank 
^.-5^    s       'J  Pump  Line  from  Croton        A 
^  (")     3  "Pump  L  >'np  from  Hell  I 

•^       'J  -  /*v//  /*»/f  />O/TI  <S«  /"/ao/  (p 

-X  -^3  Croton •       ••  -S- 


the  fire  pump  automatically  in  case  a  fire  valve  shall 
be  opened  on  any  of  the  floors.  The  fire  line  con- 
nects with  the  house  tanks,  with  3-inch  swing  check 
valve  opening  downward,  and  also  with  the  house 
pump  discharge  pipe,  so  that  in  case  the  house  pump 
should  need  repairs  it  may  do  service  temporarily  in 
filling  the  house  tanks. 

The  general  system  of  water  pipes  includes  the 
direct  street-pressure  pipes  from  the  4  inch  main  as 
follows:  3-inch  to  the  elevator  tanks,  4-inch  to  the 
suction  tank,  2-inch  to  the  boiler  feed  pump,  4-inch 
to  the  house  and  fire  pumps,  and  2^ -inch  to  the  dis- 


MA1N   DRAINS   IN    CELLAR,    MANHATTAN   LIFE   INSURANCE    BUILDING,    NEW   YORK    CITY. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


145 


tributing  drum;  a  3-inch  discharge  pipe  from  the 
house  pumps  and  another  from  the  artesian  well 
pump  to  thereof  tanks;  a  3-inch  fire  line  from  pump  to 
roof  tank,  a  4  inch  pipe  from  roof  tank  to  the  eighth- 
floor  tank,  a  4-inch  pipe  from  the  eighth-floor  tank 
to  the  cellar  distributing  drum,  and  a  2-inch  pipe  from 
the  roof  tank  to  the  hot-water  heater  in  the  cellar. 
All  of  these  main  pipes  are  supplied  with  shut  off 
gate  valves,  and  have  no  branches  taken  from  them. 
There  is  a  separate  falling  main  from  the  artesian  roof 
tank  to  the  general  toilet-rooms,  with  branches  on 
each  floor  for  water-closets  and  urinal  flushing  cis- 
terns only.  It  is  3  inches  in  diameter  above  the 
second  floor,  where  it  is  reduced  to  2  inches  and  con- 
tinued to  the  pipe  cellar,  where  it  runs  horizontally 
around  the  ceiling  and  supplies  the  various  private 
toilet  rooms  with  separate  vertical  risers. 

From  the  Croton  pressure  distributing  drum  there 
are  run  separate  i^-inch  lines  to  each  of  the  toilet- 
rooms  in  the  basement,  subbasement,  and  first  floor. 
From  the  tank-pressure  distributing  drum  there  are 
run  separate  risers  to  each  vertical  line  of  office  wash- 
stands  i  Y2  inches  in  diameter  up  to  the  eighth  floor. 
For  each  vertical  line  of  private  toilet-rooms  there 
are  run  ij^-inch  risers  up  to  the  eighth  floor,  and 
similar  ly^-inch  lines  are  run  down  from  the  roof 
tanks  to  the  eighth  floor.  For  the  large  group  of 
general  toilet-rooms  the  risers  are  3-inch  pipes  from 
the  cellar  and  from  the  roof  to  the  eighth  floor.  From 
these  vertical  rising  supply  lines  the  branches  to  the 
fixtures  are  as  follows — viz.,  for  supplying  each  wash- 
basin, one-half  inch;  for  supplying  each  water-closet 
and  urinal  cistern,  one-half  inch,  for  supplying  each 
slopsink  three-fourths  inch;  for  supplying  each  bath- 
tub, kitchen  or  pantry  sink,  three-fourths  inch. 

Wherever  a  branch  line  supplies  more  than  a  single 
of  the  fixtures  named  it  is  proportionally  increased  in 
sectional  area.  The  branches  for  supplying  each  gen- 
eral toilet-room  begin  at  i  '/£  inches  in  diameter,  and 
those  supplying  private  toilet-rooms  at  i  inch  in  dia- 
meter, and  are  reduced  in  size  as  the  various  branches 
to  fixtures  are  taken  off.  Each  horizontal  branch 
from  a  rising  line  supplying  a  group  of  fixtures  is 
provided  with  separate  shut-off  valve,  in  order  to 
control  each  toilet-room  separately.  Branches  are 
provided  in  the  rising  lines  for  each  story,  and  where 
there  are  no  fixtures  tees  for  possible  future  use  are 
left  tightly  plugged.  Separate  full  size  shut-off 
valves  are  provided  at  each  fixture  (both  on  the  cold 
and  hot  water  supply)  at  each  water-closet  and  each 
urinal  flushing  cistern.  The  rising  hot-water  lines 
for  slopsinks  in  toilet-rooms  are  i }{  inches  in  diameter, 
of  tinned  and  annealed  brass.  They  are  carried  up 
to  the  highest  fixture  without  any  reduction  in  size, 
and  a  ^-inch  circulation  pipe  is  taken  from  the 
highest  fixture  back  into  the  hot-water  tank  or  boiler. 
The  hot-water  riser  is  extended  upwards  and  turned 
over  the  top  of  the  roof  tanks.  All  supplies  to  fix- 
tures (except  flushing  cisterns)  are  provided  with 
large-size  air  chambers.  All  horizontal  lines  are 
arranged  neatly  and  symmetrically  so  that  they  do 
not  unnecessarily  cross  each  other  have  no  depress- 
ions or  sags,  nor  are  bent  up  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
become  air  bound. 


The  main  vertical  pipes  are  run  in  the  ventilation 
shafts  (V  V,  Fig.  2),  or  in  wall  recesses  where  they 
are  accessibly  inclosed  by  movable  wooden  panels, 
screwed  on.  Hot  and  cold  water  pipes  do  not  touch 
each  other,  and  are  usually  separated  3  inches  in  the 
clear.  A.11  supply  pipes  throughout  the  building  are 
so  graded  and  valved  that  they  may  be  readily  and 
completely  emptied. 

Figure  i  is  a  plan  of  the  cellar  showing  the  location 
of  the  tanks,  pumps,  distributing  lines,  etc.  there. 
Figure  2  is  a  typical  floor  plan  showing  the  arrange- 
ment of  washstands,  water-closets,  etc.  in  the  eighth 
floor,  to  which  the  other  rented  floors  are  similar. 
At  each  riser  line  are  four  pipes,  a  trap  vent,  a  soil,  a 
cold-wa'er  supply,  and  a  safe  waste,  all  run  in  wall 
recesses  except  at  the  two  ventilation  shafts  V  and 
V,  which  are  accessibly  located  in  the  foul-air  flues. 
In  V  there  are  six  pipes  and  in  V  there  are  15  pipes, 
including  the  fire  line  or  stand-pipe,  all  mains  to  and 
from  the  roof  and  intermediate  tanks,  pump  risers, 
rainwater  leaders,  gas  mains,  etc. 

PART   II.  —  SIZES    AND    WEIGHTS   OF    PIPES,    CONNECTIONS, 

FITTINGS,    ARRANGEMENT    OF    SUPPLIES,    ETC.,    ROOF    . 
DRAINAGE,  BACK  AIR,  DRAWING  AND  DESCRIPTION  OF 
ROOF  TANKS. 

ALL  lines  of  cold  water  supply  pipes,  except  the 
branches  under  the  fixtures,  are  lap-welded  extra- 
heavy  (not  the  standard)  galvanized-iron  pipes,  war- 
ranted to  be  tested  by  hydraulic  pressure  of  500 
pounds  per  square  inch.  Concealed  branch  supply 
pipes  at  all  fixtures  are  heavy  drawn  AAA  lead 
pipes,  required  to  weigh  as  follows: 

1A  inch  pipe  to  weigh  q  pounds  per  foot. 


In  all  public  and  private  toilet-rooms,  except  em- 
ployees',  all  exposed  supply  pipes  at  fixtures  (not  the 
rising  supply  mains)  are  nickel  plated  brass  pipes, 
with  nickel  plated  brass  hangers,  hold-fasts,  escut- 
cheons, etc.  Numbered  polished-brass  tags  are 
attached  to  all  shut-off  valves  in  the  building,  ex- 
cept at  the  shut-off  valves  directly  at  the  fixtures, 
the  use  of  which  is  obvious,  and  corresponding 
printed  lists  are  prepared,  giving  number,  location, 
and  description  of  every  shut-off  valve  in  the  build- 
ing so  as  to  avoid  any  possibility  of  mistake  or  con- 
fusion in  their  operation. 

There  are  in  this  building,  exclusive  of  the  fire 
valves,  etc.,  the  following  apparatus  and  fixtures  — 
viz:  One  drip  tank,  about  63  water-closets,  15  slop. 
sinks,  about  52  urinals,  20  washbasins  in  toilet-rooms, 
about  166  office  washstands,  one  bathtub,  one  kitchen 
gas  range,  one  kitchen  and  two  pot  sinks,  two  engi- 
neer's sinks  and  one  pump  sink,  two  grease  traps, 
one  kitchen  boiler,  heated  by  Vulcan  gas-burning 
attachment,  one  hot-water  tank,  two  roof  tanks,  two 
intermediate  tanks,  one  suction  tank,  two  distributing 
drums,  three  pumps,  one  water  meter;  total  about 
343  fixtures.  The  location  of  these  fixtures  is:  15  in 
pipe  cellar,  16  in  basement,  eight  in  first  floor,  17  in 
second  floor,  19  in  third  floor,  19  in  fourth  floor,  19  in 
fifth  floor,  eight  in  sixth  floor,  four  in  seventh  floor, 
24  in  mezzanine  floor,  between  seventh  and  eighth, 


140 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


20  in  eighth  floor,  19  in  ninth  floor,  iq  in  tenth  floor, 
19  in  eleventh  floor,  19  in  twelfth  floor,  19  in  thir 
teenth  floor,  18  in  fourteenth  floor,  17  in  fifteenth 
floor  17  in  sixteenth  floor,  27  in  seventeenth  floor  and 
on  roof. 

The  plumbing  in  general  is  "  exposed  work  " — i.  e., 
all  fixtures  are  arranged  in  an  open  manner,  and  all 
pipes  and  plumbing-work  kept  exposed  to  view. 
The  finish  at  fixtures  is  of  nickel-plated  brass  in  all 
general  and  private  toilet- rooms  and  of  all  office 
washstands,  and  of  lead  and  galvanized  wrought- 
iron  silver  bronzed  for  all  employees'  fixtures.  All 
toilet-rooms  are  fitted  up  complete  with  marble  par- 
titions and  have  no  woodwork,  except  the  doors  to 
closets,  which  are  short  flap  doors,  paneled,  trimmed, 
with  brass  hardware,  the  latch  operated  from  the  in- 
side, and  with  rubber  striking  tips  and  single-action 


of  the  hot- water  faucet,  so  that  in  case  hot  water 
shall  be  wanted  in  the  future  a  hot-water  faucet  can 
be  fitted  up.  The  standard  size  for  bowls  is  15x19 
inches  for  all  22x33  inch  square  slabs,  and  14x17 
inches  for  all  corner  slabs  and  for  the  smaller  square 
slabs.  Over  each  urinal  or  set  of  urinals  is  placed  a 
patent  automatic  flushing  cistern,  copper-lined,  and 
encased  in  marble  of  design  to  correspond  to  the 
water-closet  cisterns.  The  capacity  of  each  tank  is 
such  that  each  urinal  receives  a  one-gallon  flush. 
With  each  of  the  19  fire  valves  (one  in  each  story) 
there  is  connected  75  feet  of  2^ -inch  three-ply  heavy 
unlined  linen  fire  hose,  guaranteed  to  stand  a  press- 
ure of  300  pounds  per  square  inch. 

All  main  drain,  soil,  waste,  and  leader  lines  are  of 
heavy  asphalted  wrought-iron  pipes  of  standard 
make.  The  pipes  and  their  fittings  are  of  a  uniform 


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E        D 

Tol^rmtti&T**,.  Paa  p|ar,  from   Z_Z_ 

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PLUMBING   IN   THE   MANHATTAN    LIFE   INSURANCE   BUILDING,    NEW   YORK   CITY. 


butts,  bolted  to  marble  jambs  with  b.ass  spherical- 
headed  bolts.  Marble  platforms  i^  inches  thick  are 
placed  under  all  water  closets,  slopsinks,  urinals,  and 
washbasins,  and  under  kitchen  and  wash  sinks,  and 
bathtub. 

The  washstands  and  all  urinals  and  water-closets 
are  supplied  with  cold  \vater  only.  All  slopsinks, 
kitchen  sinks,  pantry  sinks,  engineer's  sink,  and 
bathtubs  have  both  hot  and  cold  water  supplies. 
All  washstands  are  supplied  with  cold  water  only, 
but  in  the  engineer's  bathroom  there  is  both  hot 
and  cold  water.  Where  basins  have  cold  water 
only  a  raised  marble  button  is  provided  in  place 


thickness  of  not  less  than  one-fourth  inch.  All  pipes 
and  fittings  were  tested  by  hydrostatic  pressure  and 
by  hammer  test  at  the  pipe  mills,  and  a  written 
guarantee  was  filed  that  such  test  had  been  applied. 
All  vent  pipes  and  vent  fittings  are  galvanized.  The 
weight  of  heavy  wrought-iron  pipes  is  as  follows: 

6-inch  pipe,  i8J£  pounds  per  foot. 


10% 
7% 
3% 


All  joints  in  iron  pipe  are  screw  joints,  made  ab- 
solutely tight  by  a  mixture  of  red  and  white  lead. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


147 


The  i^-inch  hot-water  riser  has  several  swivel  joints 
to  provide  for  the  expansion  and  contraction  due  to 
temperature  changes.  Underground  pipes  are  laid 
in  a  well-graded  trench,  and  after  inspection  were 
bedded  and  covered  with  cement,  leaving  exposed 
only  the  handboles  for  access,  which  are  surrounded 
with  brick  manholes  and  furnished  with  cast-iron 
frames  and  covers.  All  connections  between  lead 
.and  iron  pipes  are  made  by  means  of  extra-heavy 
brass  screw  ferrules,  or  nipples,  screwed  into  the 
iron  fittings,  and  connected  with  the  lead  pipes  by 
wiped  joints,  and  all  ferrule  joints  were  included  in 
the  test  of  the  soil  pipes.  All  iron  pipe  fittings  for 
branches  are  Y  or  half-Y  branches,  except  on  upright 
lines,  where  curved  or  sanitary  T  Y's  are  used,  and 
on  vent  pipes,  where  common  T  branches  are  used. 
No  quarter-bends  nor  ordinary  offset  fittings  are 
used  on  soil  or  waste  pipe  stacks.  One-sixth,  one- 
eighth,  and  one-seventh  bends,  or  the  new  pattern 
(45  degrees)  offset  fittings  are  used.  All  outlets  not 
used  for  connections  are  properly  closed  with  brass 
trap  screws  and  kept  accessible.  All  connections  be- 
tween vertical  stacks  and  horizontal  pipes  are  made 
with  Y  branches  and  eighth  bends.  All  junctions  of 
branches  with  the  main  house  sewer  are  by  Y 
branches.  All  vertical  lines  of  soil  and  waste  pipes  are 
provided  with  Y  branches  or  T  Y's  for  outlets  in 
each  story  In  cases  where  such  outlets  are  not  used 
they  are  securely  closed  with  brass  trap  screws.  On 
horizontal  lines  T  Y  branches  are  not  used,  but  they 
are  used  on  upright  lines. 

Back-air  pipes  run  along  each  upright  line  of  soil 
or  waste  pipe,  and  for  office  washstands  are  4  inches 
in  diameter  (except  5  inches  where  there  are  water- 
closets  on  the  line).  Vent  pipes  for  urinals,  basins, 
and  slopsmks  in  toilet-  rooms  are  4  inches  in  diameter, 
and  along  soil  pipes  are  5  inches  in  diameter.  All 
back-air  lines  run  through  the  roof  independently, 
.and  are  dripped  at  the  bottom  of  the  line,  and  all  T 
branches  for  vents  from  fixtures  are  set  above  the 
overflow  point  of  the  fixture  so  that  the  vent  line 
•cannot  act  as  a  waste  pipe  in  case  of  stoppages. 

Branch  waste  and  vent  pipes  and  flush  pipes  for 
fixtures  are  drawn  "D"  lead  pipes,  weighing  as 
follows: 

i5<-inch,  2^  pounds  per  foot 


All  water-closet  lead  bends  are  of  eight-pound 
lead.  In  all  toilet-rooms,  whether  public  or  private, 
except  those  for  employees  and  janitors,  all  exposed 
waste,  vent,  and  flush  pipes  are  of  heavy  seamless 
drawn  brass  heavily  nickel-plated.  All  back-air 
pipes  for  traps,  as  far  as  exposed  to  view,  including 
couplings,  etc.,  are  of  heavy  seamless  brass,  nickel- 
plated.  All  safe  waste  lines  are  of  galvanized  wrought 
iron  i1/?,  inches  inside  diameter,  all  put  together  with 
screw  joints,  and  with  i^xi-inch  branches  for  out- 
lets in  safes  on  each  floor.  All  drip-pipe  lines  are 
carried  independently  at  the  ceiling  of  the  cellar  and 
made  to  discharge  through  finished  hinged  brass 


flap  valves  separately  and  openly  into  a  trapped  and 
\vater:supplied  sink  in  the  cellar.  Along  each  ver- 
tical line  of  soil  pipe  and  waste  pipe  is  a  line  of  i>£- 
inch  drip  pipe  from  the  marble  safes  or  platforms 
under  the  fixtures.  These  drip  pipes  are  carried  down 
to  the  engineer's  sink  in  the  pipe  cellar,  each  line 
separately,  and  the  mouth  of  each  is  protected  by  a 
stamped  brass-hinged  flap  valve.  Waste-pipe  lines 
for  office  washstands  are  3  inches  in  diameter  (except 
5  inches  where  there  are  water-closets  on  the  line). 
Waste  pipes  for  urinals,  basins,  and  slopsinks  in 
toilet-rooms  are  4  inches  in  diameter.  All  soil  pipes 
are  5  inches  in  diameter. 

The  roof  drainage  is  carried  down  through  four  4 
and  one  6-inch  extra-heavy  asphalted  wrought-iron 
inside  leaders,  each  trapped  at  the  foot  of  the  stack 
by  a  full-size  extra-heavy  cast-iron  trap,  and  con- 
nected by  Y  branches  and  eighth  bends  with  the  two 
sewer  lines.  All  outside  leaders  for  domes,  sky- 
lights, etc.  are  connected  with  brass  or  copper  fer- 
rules and  calked  joints  to  the  rainwater  inlets  in  the 
wrought-iron  leaders. 

Figure  3  shows  the  arrangement  and  connections 
of  the  two  5,ooo-gallon  roof  tanks,  which  are  located 
in  a  separate  tank-house  built  on  the  main  roof. 
Each  tank  rests  on  three  rolled-steel  girders,  which 
distribute  its  weight  over  four  lines  of  floor  beams, 
and  is  made  of  boiler-iron,  lap-riveted  and  stayed  by 
10  intersecting  internal  tie-rods.  The  tanks  are  7 
feet  6  inches  deep,  and  are  intended  to  hold  7  feet  of 
water.  The  bottoms  of  the  tanks  are  connected  by  a 
3-inch  flanged  cast-iron  pipe  A  with  vertical  ends, 
having  gate  valves  B  and  D,  through  which  the 
main  house  supply  is  drawn.  Ordinarily  it  is  in- 
tended that  the  tank  W  shall  be  filled  with  well  water 
for  use  in  flushing  cisterns  only,  and  tank  C 
should  be  filled  with  city  water  for  other 
general  purposes.  When  this  is  the  case  valve 
D  is  closed  and  valve  B  is  open,  supplying  the 
intermediate  tanks,  boiler,  and  riser  lines  through 
pipe  A  and  its  connections.  Valve  E  is  open  to  sup- 
ply the  special  cistern  system,  and  valve  F  is  always 
open  to  insure  a  constant  tank-pressure  fire  service. 
R  is  a  check  valve  closing  toward  the  tank  with  the 
pressure  from  the  fire  pump.  By  reversing  valves  B 
and  D  the  whole  supply  may  be  taken  from  the  well 
tank  W,  and  by  opening  both  of  them  the  water  in 
both  will  be  mixed  and  equalized.  G  G  are  vent 
pipes  to  promote  the  emptying  of  the  riser  lines,  and 
H  H  are  copper  floats  operating  the  electric  alarms 
indicating  in  the  engine-room.  The  vertical  outlet 
pipes  at  B  and  D  rise  6  inches  above  the  bottom  of 
the  tanks. 

PART  III. — CELLAR  DRAINAGE  AND  SEWAGE  PUMP,  TEST- 
ING OF  PIPE  LINES.  HOT-WATER  HEATER,  DETAIL 
DRAWINGS  AND  DESCRIPTION  OF  INTERMEDIATE 
PRESSURE  TANKS  AND  BASEMENT  DISTRIBUTION 
DRUMS. 

THE  drips,  tanks,  wastes,  etc.,  in  pipe  cellar,  being 
below  the  level  of  the  street  sewer,  are  drained  into  a 
mason's  cesspool.  The  contents  of  this  tank  are 
emptied  periodically  by  means  ot  a  pump,  and  dis- 
charged through  a  proper  waste  pipe  into  an  elevated. 


148 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


trapped,  and  water-supplied  sink  in  the  basement, 
with  waste  to  sewer.  The  tank  is  a  round,  open  well, 
of  500  gallons  capacity,  6  feet  in  diameter,  and  3  feet 
deep.  There  are  two  sewer  connections  with  the 
street  sewer  in  New  Street,  each  6  inches  in  diam~- 
ter,  trapped  by  6-inch  traps  and  fitted  with  s-inch 
fresh- air  inlet  pipes. 

After  the  pipe  lines  were  completed  all  openings 
of  soil,  waste,  drain,  and  vent  pipes  and  the  ends  of 
horizontal  drains  were  securely  closed  by  means  of 
soil-pipe  plugs,  the  lead  bends  of  branches  properly 
soldered  up,  and  braced  where  required  to  withstand 
the  pressure,  and  the  whole  system  of  piping  was 
filled  with  water  to  the  top  of  the  building.  The 
water  remained  at  the  original  level  for  12  to  48  hours 
without  signs  of  leaking.  This  test  was  made  in  two 
parts,  sections  of  the  pipes  being  first  filled  up  to  the 
thirteenth  story,  as  they  were  put  in  place  from  the 
bottom  up. 

Figure  4  shows  the  arrangement  and  connections 
of  the  intermediate  tanks  designed  to  relieve  the  ex- 


cessive pressure  on  the  lower  sections  of  the  pipes. 
No  special  provisions  having  been  made  for  their  re- 
ception it  was  necessary  to  limit  them  in  size  and 
place  them  in  two  tiers  in  a  small  closet  on  the  eighth 
floor,  where  they  are  filled  through  the  overflow 
pipes  K  and  L  from  the  roof  by  Croton  and  well 
water  tanks  respectively,  the  roof  tanks  having  their 
electric  indicators  arranged  to  show  when  the  pipes 
K  and  L  are  full  and  overflow  begins.  Provision  for 
a  separate  pump  line  to  the  eighth  floor  has  been 
contemplated,  so  as  to  avoid  raising  the  water 
unnecessarily  high  for  the  lower  floors,  but,  as  the 
expense  of  pumping  is  only  slightly  increased  by  lift- 
ing the  water  an  increased  distance  after  it  is  once 
started,  it  was  thought  best,  for  convenience  and 
simplicity,  to  arrange  it  as  shown.  In  the  four  cor- 
ners of  the  room  were  set  special  riveted  steel  col- 
umns C  C  C  C,  which  support  at  convenient  heights 
xo-inch  rolled  I  beams,  two  of  which  carry  each  tank, 
so  as  to  leave  it  well  exposed  and  accessible  for  con- 
nections, inspection,  and  the  manipulation  of  its. 


Front  Elevation 


'A  Pr  Croton  Water  from  Roof  Tank. 

Artesian  Water  from  Roof  Tank. 


_tcr 


•9^ -^Hf. » 

•x,       »Q£ 


Side  Elevation 


0verflo* 

Detail  at  Z-Z. 


f  7  ]          Croton  Drum  ?_]  |  Artesian  Dru 


Front  Elevation 


Elevation  V-Y. 


PLUMBING  IN   MANHATTAN  LIFE  INSURANCE  BUILDING,   NEW  YORK  CITY. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


149 


valves,  and  to  allow  the  convenient  arrangement  of 
pipes  and  valves  with  economy  of  «pace.  Croton 
\vater  from  the  roof  tank  is  delivered  through  the  3- 
inch  falling  main  K  and  a  gate  valve  to  the  three 
ball  cocks  B  B  B,  arranged  as  shown  in  plan  on  a 
horizontal  branch  pipe,  which  is  fastened  to  the 
upper  edge  of  the  tank,  and  having  check  chains  to 
limit  the  motion  of  the  floats.  These  tanks  are  en- 
tirely independent  of  and  unconnected  with  each 
other,  and  all  their  pipes  are  carried  up  and  down 
'hrough  the  adjacent  large  ventilation  shafts  at  the 
rear. 

Figure  5  shows  the  connections  to  the  distributing 
drums  in  the  cellar.  They  are  made  of  boiler-iron 
and  tested  by  a  hydrostatic  pressure  of  500  pounds 
per  square  inch.  Drum  T  for  supplying  the  base- 
ment to  the  seventh  floor  inclusive  with  Croton  water 
is  8^  feet  long.  2  feet  in  diameter,  and  holds  200 
gallons.  It  is  supplied  from  the  eighth-floor  inter- 
mediate tank  C  by  the  3-inch  pipe  A,  and  distributes 
water  to  the  different  lines  of  fixtures  through  the 
independent  ij^-inch  risers  B  B,  etc..  each  with  a 
separate  gate  valve  F  and  emptying  valve  D,  by 
which  its  contents  may  be  discharged  into  drip  pipe 
E  when  D  is  open  and  F  closed.  G  is  a  separate  3- 
inch  main  from  the  main  roof  tank  to  supply  the  drum 
directly  if  necessary,  but  its  valve  is  ordinarily  kept 
closed.  Drum  C.  of  about  100  gallons  capacity,  is  in- 
tended to  receive  the  artesian  well  water  supply 
through  3-inch  pipe  H  from  the  intermediate  tank 
shown  in  Fig.  4.  and  distribute  it  to  all  flushing 
cisterns  below  the  ninth'  floor  through  the  ij^-inch 
pipes  K  K,  but  by  opening  valve  L.  which  is  usually 
closed,  it  may  be  supplied  from  the  roof  or  in- 
termediate tanks.  M  is  a  3-inch  main  from  the 
artesian  roof  tank  W,  Fig.  3,  and  its  valve  is  usually 
closed. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  the  pipes  and  valves  are 
arranged  with  symmetry  and  connected  with  unions 
which  allow  the  disconnection  of  any  one  without 
disturbing  the  rest.  The  valves  allow  each  line  to 
be  separately  cut  out  and  emptied  for  new  connec- 
tions, alterations,  etc.  N  N  are  i^-inch  emptying 
pipes.  Adjacent  to  these  distributing  drums,  as 
shown  in  Fig.  i,  is  set  on  wrought-iron  standards  or 
supports  a  boiler-iron  closed  hot-water  tank  of  250 
gallons  capacity,  2J^  feet  diameter  by  6j,?  feet  long. 
This  tank  is  warranted  to  have  been  tested  by  a 
hydrostatic  pressure  of  500  pounds  per  square  inch. 
It  is  supplied  from  roof-tank  pressure  and  provided 
with  manhole,  emptying  pipe,  and  proper  supply 
connections  from  the  falling  main.  Inside  of  the 
tank  is  a  i-inch  tinned  brass  steam  coil,  with  connec- 
tions to  live  and  exhaust  and  return  steam  pipes,  and 
a  Powers  automatic  heat  regulating  attachment  to 
shut  off  the  steam  supply  when  the  temperature  of 
the  water  rises  to  150°  Fabr.  The  tank  has  one  2- 
inch  delivery  pipe  supplying  the  hot-water  fixtures 
and  a  i-inch  return  circulation  pipe  entering  the 
emptying  pipe  at  the  bottom  just  above  its  valve. 
There  is  a  2-inch  cold-water  roof-tank  supply  pipe, 
and  the  tank  has  a  non-conducting  covering  and  a 
manhole  opening. 


PLUMBING  IN  THE  BANK  OF  AMERICA 
BUILDING.  NEW  YORK. 

(PUBLISHED   IN   1889  ) 
PART  I. — TANKS,  BOILERS,  ETC. 

IN  the  Bank  of  America's  new  xo-story  building  in 
Wall  Street,  New  York,  the  first  floor  is  occupied  by 
the  bank  and  its  offices  and  the  other  stories  are  ar- 
ranged as  single  offices  and  suites,  each  of  which  is 
supplied  with  hot  and  cold  water.  There  are  also 
public  and  private  water-closets,  urinals,  etc. 

The  architect  of  the  building  was  Charles  W.  Clin- 
ton. New  York,  and  the  plumbing,  some  details  of 
which  we  shall  describe,  was  done  by  John  Tourney, 
New  York,  whose  foreman  in  charge  of  the  job  was 
John  B.  Donovan. 

To  prevent  possible  interruption  of  the  supply  and 
to  insure  its  sufficiency,  water  is  taken  from  two 
separate  branches  of  the  city  mains — viz.,  from  Wall 
Street,  through  the  2-inch  pipe  B,  Fig.  i,  and  from 
William  Street  through  the  i%  -inch  pipe  A.  Both  pipes 
deliver  through  ball  cock  C  to  the  receiving  tank  T, 
which  is  on  the  cellar  floor  adjacent  to  the  heating 
and  distributing  system.  By  opening  valve  D  and 
closing  valve  E  water  is  drawn  from  Wall  Street 
only;  by  reversing  the  valves,  from  William  Street 
only,  and  by  opening  both  valves,  from  both  streets. 
F  is  the  2  inch  suction  pipe  to  boiler,  tank,  and  fire 
pumps,  and  G  is  the  sediment  pipe  for  emptying  the 
tank.  H  is  the  overflow  pipe, 

Figure  2  shows  the  heating  and  distributing  system, 
in  which  portions  of  tank  T  and  pipe  A,  B,  H,  and  F 
of  Fig.  i  reappear.  C  is  a  boiler  containing  a  coil 
that  receives  live  or  exhaust  steam  from  pipe  G  and 
discharges  it  through  pipe  I  and  trap  E.  J  is  the  2- 
inch  pipe  from  the  roof  tank  and  its  1 5^-inch  branch 
K  supplies  cold  water  to  the  boiler  C,  N  is  the  hot- 
water  pipe  from  boiler  to  the  different  floors.  O  is 
the  hot-water  return-circulation  pipe.  M  is  a  branch 
from  tank  pipe  J  and  supplies  distributor  D,  from 
which  the  i-inch  pipes  P  P,  etc.  supply  the  various 
upper  floors.  Q  is  a  direct  supply  from  street  press- 
ure to  the  bank  offices.  S  is  a  pipe  discharging  all 
safe  waste  drips  into  a  sink  in  boiler-room.  U  is  a 
branch  from  Wall  Street  main  direct  to  the  suction 
pipe  of  the  tank  pump.  V  is  a  drip  pipe  draining  the 
rising  lines  and  discharging  into  tank  T.  R  is  a 
sediment  pipe  draining  D.  A  sediment  pipe  hidden 
behind  it  empties  the  boiler  C. 

Figure  3  shows  the  arrangement  of  tank  pump  Z 
in  the  cellar  near  the  receiving  tank,  A  is  its  suction 
pipe  that  is  supplied  directly  from  the  Wall  Street 
main,  through  pipe  U.  or  from  receiving  tank  T, 
Fig.  i,  through  pipe  F,  B  is  the  delivery  pipe  that 
is  connected  to  the  roof  tank  pipe  E  by  branch  G,  and 
to  the  fire  line  pipe  by  branch  J.  Ordinarily  valves 
C  and  P  are  closed  and  valve  D  is  open,  and  the 
pump  delivers  to  the  tank,  but  in  case  of  fire  valve 
D  may  be  closed  and  C  opened,  and  the  pump 
worked  on  the  lire  line.  I  I  are  branches  from  the 
fire  and  boiler  pumps  that  connect  by  pipe  H  with 
the  pipe  E  and  provide  for  the  filling  of  the  tank  if 
pump  Z  should  be  disabled.  K  is  a  drip  pipe  empty- 
ing the  tank  pipe.  O  is  the  hot-water  return-circula- 


150 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


tion  pipe  (see  Fig.  2  also),  M  and  L  are  cold-water 
pipes  supplying  engine-room  sink  and  water-closet. 
N  is  an  extra  supply  for  boilers  to  furnish  water  when 
pumps  are  not  working.  P  is  a  valve  to  which  hose 
may  be  attached  for  washing  the  floor,  etc.  Q  is  a 
check  valve. 

Figure  4  shows  the  engine-room  sink  that  is  sup- 
ported by  the  polished-brass  pipe  frame  and  standard 
A,  has  hot  and  cold  taps,  H  and  C,  and  receives  the 
drip  and  safe  waste  pipes  and  the  overflow  from  tank 
T,  Fig.  i. 

PART  II. — ROOF  TANK,  PIPE  LINES,  AND  DETAILS. 

FIGURE  5  is  a  sketch  of  the  roof  tank  A  that  is 
about  6x12  feet  and  7  feet  deep,  built  of  TV 
inch  iron,  with  2^x2j^-inch  corner  angles  and 
stiffening  bars  of  4x4  T  iron  and  2x3  angles.  It  rests 
on  sx6-inch  yellow  pine  sticks  B  B,  that  raise  it  from 


the  iron  safe  C  that  is  provided,  notwithstanding 
that  it  is  above  the  iron  roof  surface  D,  from  which 
all  water  drains  directly  to  the  gutters.  E  is  the  4- 
inch  fire  line.  F  is  the  2  inch  house  supply.  G  is 
the  4  inch  overflow  that  discharges  directly  on  the 
roof,  and  has  a  lo-inch  copper  flaring  top  H,  in- 
tended to  increase  the  rapidity  of  discharge.  I  is  a 
2-inch  sediment  pipe  emptying  the  tank.  It  also 
discharges  on  the  roof.  J  is  a  2-inch  pump  pipe, 
and  K  is  a  i-inch  relief  pipe  from  the  boiler  C,  Fig. 
2.  L  is  a  2-inch  safe  waste  discharging  in  the  sink, 
Fig.  4.  M  is  an  1 8-inch  copper  float  operating  the 
gauge  index  in  the  engine-room. 

This  building  contains  about  40  water-closets,  20 
urinals,  50  washbowls,  and  six  slopsinks,  exclusive  of 
the  janitor's  apartments,  which  have  a  kitchen  sink 
and  washtubs  with  marble  panels  and  safes,  one 
toilet-room  containing  urinal  and  water-closet,  another 


Fio.l 


PLUMBING   IN   THE  BANK  OF   AMERICA  BUILDING,    NEW   YORK   CITY. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


151 


containing  bathtub  and  water-closet,  another  with  a 
sink  only  and  two  washbasins.  Ail  the  water  pipes 
are  brass,  and  where  exposed  are  polished  and 
lacquered. 


There  are  20  lines  of  soil,  waste,  and  vent  pipes 
from  3  to  6  inches  in  diameter,  and  rising  to  about 
150  feet  above  their  lowest  points.  These  lines  were 
all  filled  to  the  top  with  water,  and  it  is  stated  that 


DOOK       I  I        DOOR. 

PLUMBING  IN  THE   BANK   OF  AMERICA  BUILDING,   NEW   YORK 


152 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


FmJi 


fv       ra.e 


PLUMBING  IN  THE  BANK   OF  AMERICA  BUILDING,   NEW   YORK   CITY. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


153 


no  leaks  were  found,  and  the  water  did  not  settle 
perceptibly  in  any  of  them  during  the  five  or  ten 
hours'  test.  In  the  eighth-floor  toilet-room,  16x20 
feet,  it  was  necessary  to  crowd  in  16  water  closets, 
four  urinals,  two  washbasins,  and  a  slopsink.  The 
complicated  arrangement  of  soil  and  vent  pipes  used 
here  is  shown  in  diagrams,  Pigs.  6  and  7.  J  J  is  a 
pipe  shaft  containing  all  the  rising  lines,  A  is  a  4- 
inch  vent  pipe  from  lower  floors,  B  is  the  gas  main, 
C  the  main  soil  pipe,  D  is  a  ij^-inch  hot-water  pipe 
from  the  basement  boiler,  and  is  continued  to  open 
above  the  roof  tank,  E  is  a  6  inch  rainwater  leader, 
F  is  the  2-inch  pump  pipe  to  tank,  G  is  the  2-inch 
supply  pipe  from  tank,  H  is  the  2-inch  drip  pipe  from 
tank  safe  and  lower  safes,  I  is  the  i-inch  hot-water 
return- circulation  pipe. 

The  soil  pipe  C  extends  above  the  roof,  and  its 
main  branches,  M  and  M,  connect  at  O  and  Q  with 
vertical  pipes  extending  above  the  roof.  K,  L,  and  K 
are  the  trap  vent  pipes  and  rise  above  the  roof  from 
points  N,  P,  and  T.  At  each  tee  and  at  S.  V,  and  W 
a  2-inch  lead  branch  connects  with  the  trap  of  the 
corresponding  fixture.  At  Z  Z,  etc.  are  water-closets, 
at  X  a  slopsink,  at  Y  two  washbowls,  and  at  U  four 
urinals.  The  lines  M  and  M  are  laid  beneath  the 
floor  tiles.  The  vent  lines,  K  and  K,  are  behind  the 
wainscot,  and  L  is  concealed  in  a  fireproof  partition 
that  crosses  the  room.  The  walls  and  ceiling  of  this 
room  are  plastered  and  tinted,  the  floor  tiles,  wain- 
scot, and  other  panels  are  of  Italian  marble,  and  the 
cabinet-work  (which  is  all  elevated  from  the  floor)  is 
of  oil-finished  oak.  The  shaft  J  J  is  faced  inside 
with  glazed  brick,  and  to  avoid  defacing  these  two 
special  iron  supports,  shown  in  Fig.  8,  were  built  in 
the  first  or  bank  story,  and  one  in  each  of  the  other 
stories,  to  carry  the  rising  lines  of  pipes. 

Figure  9  shows  different  methods  of  supporting 
the  pipes  from  the  ijron  floor  beams. 

Figure  7  is  an  elevation  of  vent  pipe  L  in  Fig.  6. 

PART  III. — WATER-CLOSETS  AND    DETAILS. 

FIGURE  10  shows  the  automatic  tank  T  and  flush 
pipes  B  B  B  that  serve  three  urinals  in  the  basement. 
The  tank  has  a  capacity  of  10  gallons,  and  is  usually 
set  to  flush  every  15  minutes;  it  is  a  wooden  box 
lined  with  copper,  faced  with  marble  panels  and 
neatly  fitted  around  iron  floor  joist  J.  The  supply  is 
through  a  ball  cock,  and  is  controlled  by  valve  C. 
The  discharge  is  through  the  special  brass  three-way 
branch  A  with  ground  couplings  F  F  F  connecting  it 
to  the  flush  pipes  B  B  B  that  are  smoothly  and  sym- 
metrically curved. 

Figure  1 1  is  a  general  view  of  a  room  on  the  seventh 
floor.  The  walls  and  floor  have  white  ceramic  tiling 
and  the  paneling  is  of  white  marble.  The  supply 
pipes  D  and  E  are  controlled  by  valves  A  and  B,  and 
are  easily  accessible  behind  the  marble  panels.  The 
automatic  flush  tank  T  is  similar  to  that  shown  in 
Fig.  10,  except  that  its  branch  C  is  two-way.  The 
flush  tanks,  shown  in  Figs.  10  and  n,  and  all  others 
in  the  building  are  ingeniously  supported  as  shown 
in  Fig.  12,  where  the  ^-inch  brass  rods  A  A  are 
leaded  into  the  marble  at  the  lower  end,  and  into  the 
brick  at  the  upper  ends,  and  the  j^-inch  rods  B  B  are 


tightly  screwed  up  against  iron  washer  plates  C  C  on 
the  back  of  the  wall.  A  furring  strip  (omitted  for 
clearness  in  the  illustration)  separates  the  marble 
from  the  wooden  box  far  enough  to  permit  the  rods 
B  B  to  be  placed  as  shown. 


PLUMBING  IN  THE  CONSTABLE  BUILDING. 

(PUBLISHED  IN   1895.) 

PART  I. — WASTE  AND  VENT  AND  HOT  AND  COLD  WATER 
PIPE  LINES,  FITTINGS.  VALVES,  AND  CONNECTIONS, 
ARRANGEMENT  OF  PIPES  IN  BASEMENT,  CONNEC- 
TIONS OF  RISERS  TO  DISTRIBUTION  MAINS,  AND 
SECTIONS  SHOWING  HOT  AND  COLD  WATER  RISER 
SYSTEMS  AND  SOIL-PIPE  LINES. 

AN  office  and  store  building  has  just  been  erected 
by  Marc  Eidlitz  &  Son.  builders  on  the  northeast 
corner  of  Fifth  Avenue  and  Eighteenth  Street,  New 
York  City,  for  the  estate  of  Henrietta  Constable 
according  to  the  plans  of  William  Shickel  &  Co-, 
architects.  The  plumbing  has  been  executed  by 
T.  J.  Byrne,  with  Arthur  H.  Napier,  C.  E.,  as  con- 
sulting engineer.  The  building  has  a  frontage  of 
100  feet  on  Fifth  Avenue  and  a  frontage  of  200  feet  on 
Eighteenth  Street,  and  consists  of  a  basement  and  12 
full  stories,  with  bulkheads,  tank-house,  toilet-room, 
and  janitor's  apartments,  forming  a  thirteenth  story 
over  portions  of  the  building.  The  first  and  second 
st  tries  are  arranged  for  large  stores  and  the  remain- 
der of  the  building  for  offices  singly  and  en  suite. 

The  plumbing  comprises  a  supply  of  cold  water  to 
washbasins  throughout  the  building,  hot  water  to  the 
slopsinks  on  every  floor  and  to  the  main  toilet-room; 
filtered  water  to  each  corridor,  water  under  tank  and 
pump  pressure  for  fire  service,  public  and  private 
toilet-rooms,  and  complete  independent  domestic 
apparatus  in  the  janitor's  apartments.  There  is  also 
the  necessary  system  of  tanks,  pumps,  filters,  and 
•  meters,  beside  the  main  and  distribution  supply 
pipes,  soil,  vent,  and  sewer  pipes.  Some  of  the  essen- 
tial and  characteristic  features  of  this  installation  are 
here  described  and  illustrated  from  original  sketches 
and  the  working  drawings  and  specifications.  All 
exposed  drains  in  the  basement,  and  all  soil,  waste, 
and  vent  pipes  and  branches,  and  all  leaders  are 
made  of  standard  welded  steel  tubing.  All  such 
pipe  and  fittings  (except  where  exposed  in  basement) 
are  thoroughly  coated  inside  and  outside  with  a  good 
asphalt  varnish.  Exposed  pipe  in  the  basement  is 
tar-coated  on  the  inside  only  and  painted  on  the  out- 
side. All  fittings,  traps,  etc.  for  steel  pipe  are  spe- 
cial extra  heavy,  recessed  threaded,  cast-iron  drain- 
age fittings.  Branch  fittings  and  ells  have  threads 
tapped  at  a  grade.  Reducing  fittings  are  used  in- 
stead of  bushings,  and  no  steam  fittings  or  cast 
bushed  fittings  were  used. 

All  cold  supply  piping,  mains,  pump,  tank,  heater, 
and  filter  connections,  cold  risers,  fire  lines,  and  safe 
wastes  (except  ^-inch  pipe)  are  of  galvanized 
wrought-iron  pipe,  with  heavy  galvanized  malleable 
and  galvanized  cast-iron  fittings.  All  lead  traps  are 
of  six-pound  and  eight-pound  lead,  with  brass  trap 
screws;  water-closet  bends  are  of  eight-pound  lead. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


All  hot  supplies,  all  exposed  fixture  branches,  and 
all  ^-inch  supply  pipes  are  of  brass.  Brass  waste 
and  vent  branches  at  traps  are  of  "iron  pipe  size," 
and  all  brass  traps  were  specially  made  to  permit  the 
use  of  this  heavy  pipe.  All  supply  and  fire  lines 
have  finished  brass  gate  and  globe  valves,  with  iron 
or  brass  wheel  handles,  and  are  plated  or  polished  to 
correspond  with  pipe.  Valves  2  inches  and  over  are 
gate,  others  are  globe  valves,  and  4  inch  valves 
have  an  iron  body.  Connections  between  cast-iron 
and  steel  drain  pipes  are  made  with  special  calking 
fittings.  Joints  between  lead  and  cast-iron,  wrought- 
iron,  or  stetl  pipe  are  made  with  brass  ferrules  and 


soldering  nipples  the  size  of  the  fitting,  with  the  lead 
run  through  the  ferrule.  The  joints  between  pipe 
stacks  and  the  roof  are  made  by  special  roof  fit- 
tings and  sleeves  of  ao-ounce  cold-rolled  copper, 
extending  18  inches  on  all  sides  of  the  pipe  fittings 
under  the  tile  and  its  chambered  sleeve  above.  All 
changes  in  direction,  and  fixture  connections  are 
made  with  Y  branches  and  45-degree  elbows,  or  on 
upright  lines  only,  with  the  special  long  go-degree 
Y's.  All  branch  fittings  and  bends  on  waste  and 
soil  lines,  etc.  have  threads  accurately  tapped  to 
give  a  uniform  grade  of  one-fourth  inch  or  one-half 
inch  per  foot.  All  sewers  and  drains  and  horizontal 


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PLUMBING   IN   THE   CONSTABLE   OFFICE   BUILDING,    NEW   YORK    CITY. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


155 


wastes,  or  their  branches  have  a  uniform  fall  of  at 
least  one-fourth  inch  per  foot,  and  as  much  more  as 
may  be  practicable.  The  rainwater  leaders  are  of 
4,  5,  and  6-inch  steel  pipe,  with  special  running  traps. 
There  are  three  5-inch  and  two  4-inch  lines  of  soil 
pipe  and  n  lines  of  3-inch  waste  pipe,  the  latter  all 
increased  to  4  inches  just  above  the  highest  connec- 
tion. 


All  branches  are  in  general  of  steel.  At  the  ends 
of  soil  and  waste  pipe  branches,  at  angles,  and  on  all 
iron  traps  there  are  set  Y-branch  or  trap  hub  clean- 
outs  of  the  same  size  as  the  pipe,  closed  with  special 
heavy  cast-brass  plugs.  The  water-supply  lines  in 
the  basement  are  run  exposed  on  the  ceiling,  but 
throughout  the  building  they  are  covered  in  with  the 
waste  lines.  All  lines  and  branches  are  graded  so 


PLUMBING  IN  THE  CONSTABLE  OFFICE  BUILDING,   NEW  YORK  CITY. 


156 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


as  to  completely  empty  at  the  lowest  point  in 
the  basement.  Drip  pipes  with  globe  valves  are 
provided  for  all  mains,  risers,  returns,  etc.,  and  are 
run  to  the  sink  or  receiving  tank  in  the  basement,  so 
that  any  or  all  parts  of  the  supply  system  may  be 
emptied  for  repairs. 

Figure  i  is  a  diagram  of  the  basement  showing  the 
arrangement  of  the  pumps,  etc.,  and  the  approxi- 
mate location  of  the  hot  and  cold  water  distributing 
mains  and  riser  branches  on  the  ceiling. 

Figure  2  shows  the  arrangement  and  support  of  the 
group  of  pipes  in  one  set  supported  from  the  base- 
ment ceiling. 

Figure  3  is  a  longitudinal  section  of  the  building 
showing  the  arrangement  of  the  hot  and  cold  water 
risers  on  one  side  of  the  building.  Horizontal 


-Wank  Riser 
4"  stk  Aye.  Supply 
^  /8'J>St.    ft 

"  Pump  &  Ffre  Line 
~3  "Floor  Safe  Waste 
"  Gauge 
-'     Hot  Welter 


RgCORD 


^Supply  to  Feed  Pump. 


PLUMBING   IN    THE    CONSTABLE   OFFICE   BUILDING,    NEW   YORK   CITY. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING    PRACTICE. 


157 


branches  aie  taken  off  from  the  vertical  pipes  up  to 
the  fourth  floor,  above  which  level  the  lines  are 
direct  to  the  rows  of  superimposed  fixtures 

Figure  4  is  a  tranverse  section  showing  the  princi- 
pal lines  of  soil  waste,  and  vent  pipes  and  the  ar- 
rangement of  risers  to  avoid  obstructing  the  stores 
on  the  lower  floors  and  to  connect  with  one  of  the 
three  separate  lines  of  sewer  pipe  which  cross  the 
building  tranversely. 

PART  II. — PUMPS,  SECTION  TANK    AND   ROOF  TANK. 

FIGURE  5  shows  the  arrangement  of  suction  tank, 
pumps  and  main  pipe  connections.  Water  from  both 
the  Fifth  Avenue  and  Eightetnth  Street  mains  is 
taken  in  through  4-inch  branches  each  of  which  has 
a  4-inch  meter  with  a  check  valve  on  the  outlet  side 
of  the  meter  set  so  as  to  prevent  water  from  one 
main  escaping  through  both  meters  and  into  the 
other  main  if  it  should  be  broken  or  emptied,  or  to 
prevent  a  crossflow  when  the  pressure  in  the  two 
mains  varies.  Each  main  is  separately  controlled 
by  a  valve  and  can  independently  fill  the  suction 
tank  through  four  2^-inch  ball  cocks.  The  suction 
tank  is  about  I2'x7'x8'  deep,  made  of  3^-inch  steel 
plates,  with  tee-bar  and  angle-iron  stiffeners  and 
cross  tie-rods,  and  holds  about  5,000  gallons.  It  is 
considered  an  open  tank  in  that  it  is  provided  with 
an  overflow,  and  the  water  it  contains  is  not  under 
pressure,  but  it  is  tightly  closed  with  an  iron-plate 
cover  to  keep  out  dust,  and  has  a  hinged  manhole 
door  to  give  access  to  the  interior.  All  its  pipe  con- 
nections are  made  with  inside  and  outside  flanges 
and  the  galvanized-iron  4- inch  overflow  and  2-inch 
emptying  pipes  (not  shown  here)  are  run  to  the  re- 
ceiving tank,  which  is  set  below  the  basement  floor. 
It  is  made  of  boiler-iron  and  is  about  I4'xg'x5'  deep, 
with  riveted  iron  cover  with  two  manholes  with  heavy 
cast-iron  covers  flush  with  the  floor.  This  tank  re- 
ceives surtace  drainage  from  the  light  court  engine- 
roonj  floor,  and  overflows  from  all  basement  tanks, 
etc.,  and  is  pumped  out  to  the  sewer.  The  pumps 
are  connected  as  shown,  to  be  supplied  either  from 
the  street  main  direct  or  usually  through  the  suction 
tank,  and  are  connected  together  for  regular  house 
and  fire  service  and  cross-connected  to  re  enforce  the 
boiler  feed  pumps  if  necessary.  There  are  in  all  five 
Blake  duplex  pumps.  The  two  io"x4'/£"xi2"  shown 
are  for  fire  and  house  service,  two  6"x4"x6"  for  boiler 
feed,  and  one  6"x4"x6"  for  receiving  tank,  drip  tanks, 
etc. 

Figure  6  shows  the  connection  of  pipes  to  the  roof 
tank  and  the  connections  to  the  pumps.  When  the 
tank  is  full  its  rising  main  is  closed  by  the  ball  cock 
B  and  is  immediately  subjected  to  pressure  by  the 
action  of  the  pump.  This  pressure  is  instantly  trans- 
mitted through  the  small  pipe  P  to  the  Kieley  auto- 
matic regulating  valves  V  V,  which  shut  off  the  steam 
and  the  pumps  stop.  As  soon  as  the  water  in  the 
tank  is  lowered,  the  ball  cock  opens,  the  pressure  in 
the  pump  discharge  pipe,  and  consequently  in  pipe 
P,  is  relieved,  valves  V  V  are  opened  by  springs,  and 
the  pumps  immediately  start  up.  Of  course  the  auto- 
matic valves  VV  are  provided  with  bypasses,  and 
the  pumps  can  be  governed  by  hand  or  arranged  to 


work  up  to  a  heavy  fire  pressure  much  in   excess  of 
the  pressure  cf  the  tank  head. 

The  6  soo-gallon  house  tank  is  about  I6'x7'6"x8' 
deep,  constructed  of  tank  steel  plate,  with  all  seams 
riveted  and  calked.  It  is  stiffened  and  braced  by  T 
bars  set  vertically  about  4  feet  apart  round  the  tank, 
and  with  two  sets  of  tie-rods.  Heavy  3X3-inch  angle 
iron  is  riveted  round  the  top,  and  the  tank  is  covered 
with  ^-inch  p'ates  (not  here  shown),  with  two  large 
manholes  with  frames  and  covers.  All  pipe  connec- 
tions to  tank  are  made  with  inside  and  outside  riveted 


!  Brass  Pipe  >t 

^  .'/ 

SSN       '  * 


iMa 

DETAIL  ATZ-Z. 


DETAIL  AT  F. 


flange  joints.  The  galvanized  standing  overflow  pipe 
opens  with  a  large  copper  funnel  about  6  inches  be- 
low the  top  of  the  tank  and  runs  down  to  the  main 
roof,  with  a  metal  flap  over  the  opening.  The  tank- 
room  floor  is  protected  by  an  iron  pan,  which  wastes 
through  a  3-inch  galvanized-iron  waste  pipe  into  the 
tank  overflow.  A  separate  %"-inch  galvanized  pipe  is 
connected  with  a  Schmidt's  best  pattern  hydraulic 
indicator  gauge,  set  in  the  boiler-room  to  show  the 
depth  of  water  in  the  tank  in  feet  and  inches. 


158 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


PART  III. TOILET-ROOMS    AND    DETAILS    OK    BRASSWORK. 

FIGURE  7  is  a  plan  of  the  main  toilet-room  in  the 
twelfth  story,  and  shows  the  arrangement  of  fixtures 
and  location  of  vent  and  drain  pipes,  the  latter  being 
run  between  the  floor  and  the  ceiling  of  the  eleventh 
story.  Between  the  two  rows  of  closets  in  the  center 
of  the  room  there  is  a  high  double  wainscot,  the 
marble  walls  of  which  inclose  a  narrow  chamber, 
which  separates  them  and  leaves  room  for  the  waste 
branches  and  for  the  trap  vent  and  water  supply. 
The  flush  cisterns  rest  on  top  of  these  walls.  On 
each  of  the  lower  office  floors  there  is  a  small  toilet- 
room  containing  two  urinals  and  one  slopsink,  and  on 
the  sixth  floor  there  is  a  toilet- room  for  women  with 
eight  water-closets  and  four  washbesins.  All  these 
toilet-rooms  and  the  twelfth-floor  one  are  handsomely 
finished  with  marble  floor,  tiled  walls,  and  heavy 
white  marble  slabs  for  partitions  and  the  7-foot  wain- 
scot. The  partitions  are  fitted  with  special  heavy 
nickel-plated  brass  trimmings,'  as  shown  in  Fig.  8, 
which  is  a  sketch  of  part  of  the  sixth-floor  toilet- 
room.  All  the  exposed  edges  of  the  marble  are 
trimmed  with  i^-inch  brass  pipe,  polished  and 
plated,  and  connected  at  corners  and  right  angles  by 
spherical  couplings,  so  that  where  the  four  pieces 
around  the  edges  of  a  slab  are  screwed  tightly  to- 
gether they  form  a  secure  frame  to  hold  it  in  position 
and  attach  it  to  the  walls,  doors,  etc.  These  frames 
are  locked  on  by  being  fitted  closely  into  a  concave 


ROOT  TANK 


r 

A 

I1*      ! 

* 

1-     ' 

- 

y 

*    ^ 

*TTF 

brass  bedplate  or  chair,  which  is  flanged  over  the 
edges  of  the  marble. 

Figure  9  is  a  detail  cross-section  of  the  brass  chair, 
which  was  rolled  down  from  a  tube  to  approximately 
the  required  form,  and  then  accurately  shaped  by 
being  drawn  through  dieplates.  The  small  interior 
areas  shown  are  small  brass  tubes,  put  in  to  fill  up 
open  space  and  to  re-enforce  the  walls  of  the  large 
tube. 

Figure  12  is  a  plan  of  the  fourth  floor  and  is  typical 
of  the  office  stories.  It  shows  the  arrangement  of 
washbowls  and  the  location  of  riser  lines  and  th« 
crossing  of  waste  and  vent  branches  under  the  floof 
to  the  wall  risers.  The  washbasins  that  are  located 
in  pairs  have,  on  the  upper  floors,  vertical  flues  be- 
tween them  (not  here  shown)  in  the  thickness  of  the 
partition  wall  or  in  its  enlargement,  through  which 
the  riser  lines  are  carried  as  shown  in  Fig.  13,  which 
illustrates  the  general  arrangement  and  the  use  of  a 


Fl6.ll 


FlQ.13 


PLUMBING    IN    THE    CONSTABLE   OFFICE    BUILDING,    NEW    YORK    CITY. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


159 


special  connection  B  uniting  the  wastes  and  trap 
vents  from  both  basins.  Each  office  basin  wastes 
through  a  i^-inch  nickel-plated  trap  with  i^-inch 
waste  and  vent  branches.  Where  two  office  basins 
come  together  a  double  waste  fitting  is  used,  with  2- 
inch  waste  and  vent  branches.  These  basin  branches 
are  generally  of  steel,  and  the  waste  fitting  is  screwed 
directly  into  the  iron-pipe  fittings.  In  the  sketch, 
which  is  a  conventional  one,  not  drawn  to  accurate 
position  or  scale,  but  merely  intended  to  show  clearly 
the  general  arrangement  of  pipes,  the  size  of  the 
shaft  or  hollow- wall  space  is  exaggerated,  and  the 
pipes  are  separated  in  the  drawing  much  more  than 
is  actually  the  case.  This  is  done  to  avoid  confusion 
and  to  show  the  connections  distinctly.  Actually  the 
distance  from  the  trap  to.  the  vent  pipe  is  about  6 
inches.  All  the  basin  branches  were  capped  and 
tested  under  pressure.  Each  office  basin  is  supplied 
with  cold  water  through  j^-inch  nickel-plated  supply, 
with  j£-inch  nickel  plated  angle  valve  and  self- 
closing  cock.  Each  branch  has  a  i2-inch  air  chamber 
of  i-inch  galvanized  pipe  behind  the  casing.  The 
basins  in  the  toilet-rooms  are  the  same  as  in  the 
offices,  except  that  they  have  also  a  hot-water  supply. 

PART  IV. — HOT-WATER  AND  FILTERED-WATER  SYSTEMS, 
REQUIREMENTS  FOR  FIXTURES  AND  CONNECTIONS, 
LOCAL  VENTS,  SLOPSINKS,  URINALS,  AND  WASHBASINS. 

FIGURES  loand  n  are  conventional  diagrams  which 
are  not  drawn  to  scale  nor  position,  but  are  simplified 
to  show  principles  and  operation.  Figure  10  illus- 
trates the  hot-water  supply  and  circulation  system. 
Water  is  delivered  under  tank  pressure  to  the  400- 
gallon  boiler  in  the  basement,  and  is  there  heated  by 
an  interior  coil  of  2  inch  brass  pipe  about  30  feet  long 
that  is  supplied  with  either  live  or  exhaust  steam^ 
The  heated  water  rises  from  the  top  of  the  boiler 
through  a  main  that  runs  along  the  basement  ceiling 
across  the  center  of  the  building  and  over  to  the  side 
wall,  thence  rises  to  the  twelfth  story,  and  crossing 
horizontally  to  the  opposite  side  descends  and  returns 
full  sized  to  the  under  side  of  the  boiler,  thus  forming 
a  complete  circulation  system  of  itself.  Distribution 
branches  are  taken  at  intervals  from  this  main  to 
supply  toilet- rooms  and  slopsinks,  and  a  check  valve 
at  the  bottom,  opening  towards  the  boiler,  prevents 
a  reverse  draft  of  water  and  permits  free  circulation. 
A  connection  is  made  with  the  janitor's  kitchen 
boiler  so  as  to  permit  him  to  draw  from  the  main 
system  through  a  check  valve  that  closes  downwards 
to  prevent  the  escape  of  water  from  his  boiler  if  the 
pressure  there  should  be  the  greater.  A  relief  pipe 
terminates  m  a  Bryant  safety  and  vacuum  valve, 
wasting  into  the  roof  tank.  All  the  hot-water  pipes 
are  of  tin-lined  brass. 

Figure  n  shows  the  relation  of  pump  and  tank 
service  to  the  filtered  water  supply.  A  branch  from 
the  tank-pressure  house-supply  main  in  the  basement 
connects  with  a  Loomis  filter,  which  delivers  through 
a  special  riser  line  to  faucets  in  one  vertical  set  of 
slopsinks  in  the  corridors,  where  drinking-water  can 
be  secured  on  each  floor.  Regular  emptying  and 
•washing  valves,  etc.  for  the  filter  are  of  course  pro- 
vided, but  are  not  here  shown. 


Figure  14  shows  a  slopsink  supplied  with  hot,  cold, 
and  filtered  water  controlled  by  the  three  upper 
valves,  and  also  commanded  by  three  lower  valves  at 
L,  behind  the  sink,  to  cut  off  the  supply  for  repack- 
ing or  repairing  the  valves.  Delivery  is  through  a 
special  long  and  heavy  spout,  designed  for  this  work, 
and  re-enforced  by  a  brass  knee  brace  underneath. 

Figure  15  shows  the  connections  of  theurinals, where 
access  is  had  for  cleaning  out  the  trap  through  a  i  '/£- 
inch  brass  ferrule  that  extends  through  the  slab  and 
is  capped  in  front  under  the  urinal.  The  flues  in 
general  are  rectangular  and  so  proportioned  that  each 
urinal  has  a  branch  2  inches  in  diameter,  and  the 
main  vents  an  area  equal  to  all  the  branches.  From 
the  twelfth-floor  toilet-room  urinals  a  6-inch  vent  is 
run  well  above  the  roof,  with  8-inch  jacket  and  globe 
ventilator.  From  the  basement  toilet-room  a  12x18- 
inch  heavy  galvanized  sheet-iron  vent  duct,  with 
white  enamel  register  face,  is  run  on  the  ceiling  to 
the  space  in  the  chimey  around  the  inclosed  boiler 
flue.  All  local  vent  urinal  flues  and  branches  are  of 
20  ounce  cold-rolled  copper  with  soldered  joints.  All 
fixtures  are  set  open  without  wood  casings,  and  all 


traps,  wastes,  vents,  supplies,  and  fittings  about  all 
fixtures  are  also  exposed  and  generally  nickel-plated. 
Each  water-closet  has  a  large-sized  plain  pine  copper- 
lined  syphon  cistern,  which  is  cased  in  marble.  The 
flush-tank  cistern  is  on  top  of  the  marble  wainscoting 
and  overhangs,  so  that  the  position  of  the  flush  pipe 
is  on  the  face  of  the  marble,  and  it  is  made  perfectly 
straight,  without  bend,  curve,  or  offset.  Each  water- 
closet  is  connected  to  the  soil  pipe  by  a  4  inch  lead 
bend  with  heavy  brass  floorplate.  The  vent  from 
the  lead  bend  is  a  2-inch  lead  and  steel  branch.  Each 
cistern  is  supplied  through  a  j<-inch  nickel-plated 
branch  with  separate  globe  valve  and  hush  pipe  on 
the  ball  cock.  All  urinals  waste  through  2-inch  lead 
trap  and  waste,  with  i^-inch  nickel-plated  trap 
screw  brought  through  the  face  of  the  marble  back, 
and  with  i^-inch  vent  branch.  Each  urinal,  or  set 
of  two  to  four  urinals,  is  flushed  through  a  i^-inch 
nickel-plated  flush  pipe  from  an  automatic  syphon 
cistern  set  and  fitted  like  the  water-closet  cisterns. 
The  main  copper  local  vent  runs  behind  the  marble 
as  high  up  as  practicable,  and  a  2  inch  branch  drops 
down  to  each  urinal  waste.  These  are  of  lead,  wiped 


160 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


to  the  brass  waste  fitting  and  carried  up  to  the  copper 
vent.  Besides  the  house  tank,  suction  tank,  receiving 
tank,  filter,  acd  two  water  meters,  there  are  46 
water-closets,  29  urinals,  203  washbasins,  nine  slop- 
sinks,  one  sink,  and  in  the  janitor's  apartments  one 
sink,  one  bathtub,  three  washtrays,  one  boiler,  and 
one  water-closet.  The  entire  plumbing  and  drainage 
system  was  tested  by  the  plumber  with  a  force  pump 
and  mercury  gauge  under  an  air  pressure  equal  to  20 
inches  of  mercury,  and  the  gauge  column  did  not 
show  any  appreciable  loss  of  pressure  in  five  minutes. 


AUTOMATIC  SUBSEWER  DRAINAGE  IN 
LARGE  BUILDINGS. 

(PUBLISHED  IM   1895.) 

THE  cellar  and  basement  floors  of  large  city  build- 
ings are  often?  at  or  below  the  level  of  the  adjacent 
city  sewer,  and  when  this  is  the  case  it  prevents  a 
gravity  drainage  of  water,  sewage,  condensations, 
washings,  etc.,  into  it.  This  is  the  more  likely  to  be 
the  case  as  the  buildings  increase  in  height,  and  have 
proportionately  deeper  and  heavier  foundations,  the 
excavations  for  which  it  is  naturally  desirable  to  util- 
ize for  such  purposes  as  underground  space  may  be 
convenient  for.  These  uses  under  modern  conditions 
of  construction  are  many  and  diverse;  cellars  and 
subcellars  furnish  an  inconspicuous  position  for  ma- 
chinery and  steam  plant,  storage,  etc  ;  steam  boilers 


in  cellar  vaults  are  more  easily  reached  for  repair  or 
renewal,  especially  if  under  the  sidewalk,  than  if  in 
the  center  of  the  building.  In  hotels  these  parts  of 
the  structure  are  used  for  supplies,  stores,  wine  bins, 
etc  ,  and  in  newspaper  offices  the  large  presses  are 
installed  in  the  basement,  and  sometimes  the  type- 
setting and  stereotyping  departments  as  well  are  be- 
low the  street  level. 

When  the  foundations  are  on  piles  it  is  a  desidera- 
tum that  the  timber  should  not  extend  above  perma- 
nent ground-water  level;  indeed  in  some  cases  it  has 
been  planned  to  artificially  irrigate  the  subsoil  for  the 
benefit  of  the  piles,  &o  that  the  cellar  floor  and  walls 
are  likely  to  be  exposed  not  only  to  certain  moisture, 
but  to  possible  hydraulic  pressure,  which  may  readily 
penetrate  ordinary  masonry  or  water-proofing.  Be- 
side this,  the  lowest  parts  of  the  steam  and  sewerage 
systems  are  likely  to  fall  below  the  flow  line  of  the 
street  sewer,  and  thus  several  causes  may  contribute 
to  deposit  waste  liquid  in  the  cellar  that  must  be  me- 
chanically removed  and  should  be  constantly  disposed 
of,  automatically  and  with  positive  certainty.  Form- 
erly it  has  been  customary  to  collect  all  drainage  in  a 
cesspool  or  tank  below  the  lowest  floor,  and  periodi- 
cally pump  its  contents  out  into  the  sewer.  Objec- 
tions have  been  made  to  this  method,  and  another 
system  has  been  developed,  which  consists  essen- 
tially in  collecting  thesubsewer  drainage  in  air-tight 
iron  vessels  into  which,  as  soon  as  they  are  filled,  air 


AUTOMATIC  SUBSEWER  DRAINAGE  IN  LARGE  BUILDINGS. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


101 


pressure  is  automatically  admitted  on  top  of  the 
liquid, which  operates  to  force  it  out  through  a  sealed 
outlet,  up  and  into  the  sewer  above.  This  method  is 
called  the  Shone  ejector  system  and  was  explained 
fully  on  page  358  of  Volume  XXVII.  of  THE  ENGI- 
NEERING RECORD,  where  the  details  and  operation 
of  the  ejectors  and  the  service  in  several  installations 
were  described.  It  was  adopted  for  the  sewage  col- 
lection at  the  Columbian  Exposition  in  Chicago,  and 
has  been  provided  in  recent  large  buildings  in  Chi- 
cago, plans  of  two  of  which  have  been  sent  to  us  as 
typical  of  improved  plant  for  metropolitan  buildings 
by  Urban  H.  Broughton,  Asscc.  M.  Inst.  C.  E.,  Engi- 
neer and  Manager  of  the  Shone  Company,  Chicago, 
From  these  the  following  description  has  been  pre- 
pared: 

Figure  i  is  a  basement  plan  of  the  Chicago  Daily 
News  Building,  and  shows  the  arrangement  of  drain- 
age pipes  from  areas,  floor  strainers,  engines,  eleva- 
tors, and  other  machinery,  etc.  (but  not  including 
any  sewage),  emptying  into  a  depressed  brick-walled 
catch-basin,  whence  it  flows  to  a  pair  of  Shone  eject- 
ors, which  deliver  it  to  the  city  sewer  at  a  higher  level. 

Figure  2  is  a  plan  of  the  east  end  of  the  basement 
of  Marshall  Field  &  Co.'s  large  new  mercantile  build- 
ing, where  the  sewage  from  two  large  sets  of  water- 
closets  and  surface  drainage  is  piped  through  back- 
pressure valves  to  catcn-basins  whose  contents  flow 
to  two  ejectors  that  have  a  capacity  of  delivery  to  the 
sewer  of  50  gallons  per  minute  each,  and  are  inclosed 


in  a  covered  circular,  brick-walled,  water-tight  cham- 
ber, about  9  feet  in  internal  diameter  and  7  feet  deep. 

Figure  3  is  a  conventional  vertical  sectional  dia- 
dram  at  Z  Z  Z  Z,  Fig.  i,  showing  the  relative  verti- 
cal positions  and  features  of  arrangement  of  air  com- 
pressors, receiver,  ejectors,  and  drainage  connections 
to  the  ejectors  and  to  the  sewer. 

Figure  4  is  a  plan  and  elevation  of  the  two  ejectors 
set  in  the  standard  manner,  but  with  their  chamber 
not  covered. 


SECTIONAL  ELEVATION  OF  BASKMKNT, 

Figure  5  is  a  diagram  of  an  ejeotor  in  section  to 
illustrate  its  operation.  The  sewage  gravitates 
through  the  inlet  pipe  A  and  flap  valve  G  into  the 
ejector  and  gradually  rises  therein  until  it  reaches 
the  under  side  of  the  bell  D.  The  air  is  thus  confined 
at  atmospheric  pressure  inside  this  bell,  and  the 
sewage  continuing  to  rise  around  it  lifts  it,  together 
with  the  spindle,  etc.,  which  opens  the  compressed- 
air  admission  valve  E.  The  compressed  air  thus 
automatically  admitted  into  the  ejector  presses  on  the 
surface  of  the  sewage,  driving  it  through  the  bell- 


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AUTOMATIC   SUBSEWER   DRAINAGE  IN   LARGE  BUILDINGS. 


162 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


mouthed  opening  in  the  bottom,  and  through  flap 
valve  H  and  outlet  pipe  B,  into  the  iron  sewage  dis- 
charge pipe.  When  the  air  pressure  is  admitted 
upon  the  surface  of  the  sewage,  the  valve  G  on  the 
inlet  pipe  A  falls  on  its  seat  and  prevents  the  fluid 
escaping  in  that  direction.  The  sewage  passes  out 
of  the  ejector  until  its  level  falls  to  such  a  point  that 
the  weight  of  the  sewage  retained  in  the  cup  C,  which 


0          (2345670910 


SECTION  OF  EJECTOR 

is  no  longer  supported,  is  sufficient  to  pull  down  the 
bell  and  spindle,  thereby  reversing  the  valve  E, 
which  first  cuts  off  the  supply  of  compressed  air  to 
the  ejector,  and  then  allows  the  air  within  the  ejector 
to  exhaust  down  to  atmospheric  pressure.  The  out- 
let valve  H  then  falls  on  its  seat,  preventing  back 
flow  from  the  discharge  pipe,  and  the  sewage  again 
flows  through  the  inlet  commencing  to  fill  the  ejector 


once  more,  and  so  on.  The  position  of  the  cap  and 
bell  is  so  adjusted  that  the  compressed  air  is  not 
admitted  to  the  ejector  until  it  is  full  of  sewage,  and 
the  air  is  not  allowed  to  exhaust  until  the  ejector  is 
emptied  down  to  the  discharge  level.  Thus  the 
ejector  discharges  a  specific  quantity  each  time  it 
operates. 

In  this  mechanism  the  working  parts  are  few  and 
simple  and  not  liable  to  injury  by  the  sewage.  There 
is  no  piston  friction,  the  valves  do  not  obstruct  the 
pipes,  bottom  discharge  promotes  complete  removal 
of  solids  and  sediment,  and  the  periodic  evacuation 
may  constitute  a  desirable  flush.  To  work  the 
ejector  a  small  air  compressor  is  employed  which  can 
be  bolted  to  a  wall  in  a  convenient  place  in  the 
engine-room  of  the  building  any  distance  from  the 
ejector.  The  compressor  delivers  air  into  a  tank  or 
receiver  and  from  this  the  air  is  conveyed  to  the 
ejector  by  means  of  a  wrought-iron  pipe  of  a  small 
diameter.  When  steam  is  turned  on  to  the  com- 
pressor the  whole  apparatus  is  automatic.  When  the 
pressure  requisite  to  discharge  the  sewage  is  attained 
the  compressor  stops,  automatically  starting  up 
again  when  the  pressure  of  the  air  is  reduced  in  the 
receiver  by  reason  of  the  discharge  of  the  ejector. 
The  only  attendance  required  is  for  occasional  oiling. 

Mr.  Broughton  writes  that  "  the  ejector  chamber  is 
generally  built  of  brick,  with  an  asphalt  course.  The 
sewers  for  these  building  are  ordinarily  cast-iron 
sewer  pipes,  and  the  subsoil  drains  are  tile  pipes  laid 
in  the  ordinary  manner.  In  nearly  all  the  buildings 
we  put  two  ejectors  of  50  gallons  capacity  per  minute 
each,  although  in  a  few  we  have  put  two  of  100 
gallons  capacity  each." 


PLUMBING  IN  THE  AMERICAN  SURETY 
BUILDING. 

(PUBLISHED  IN   1896.) 

PART  I. — WATER-SUPPLY  METERS,  FILTER  SUCTION  TANK, 
PUMP,  UPPER  AND  INTERMEDIATE  TANKS. 

THE  special  conditions  and  requirements  of  the 
plumbing  in  a  modern  tall  office  building  involve  so 
many  points  of  difficulty  and  require  such  a  degree 
of  skill  and  experience  and  such  good  construction 
in  the  design  and  installation  that  the  arrangement 
and  execution  of  the  work,  while  conforming  to  the 
same  general  principles  in  different  cases,  still  present 
diverse  features  and  exhibit  special  details  in  each 
different  building,  showing  how  similar  requirements 
have  been  met  and  like  difficulties  overcome  by  mod- 
ified  plans  and  varied  details.  As  an  example  of 
typical  requirements  and  complete  system  of  plumb- 
ing service  the  work  in  the  American  Surety  Build- 
ing, New  York,  illustrates  the  general  characteristics 
of  a  sanitary  installation  for  one  of  the  loftiest  com- ! 
mercial  structures  yet  erected,  and  also  shows  the 
special  details  of  construction  and  arrangement 
adopted  to  conform  it  to  the  exactions  of  position  and 
severe  conditions  of  high-pressure  extended  lines, 
elaborate  service,  and  efficient  operation  that  ob- 
tained for  this  particular  building. 

This  building,  on  the  corner  of  Broadway  and  Pine 
Streets,  is  about  90x85  feet  and  21  stories,  or  nearly 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE, 


168 


F.G.4  ||  Hi 


.  Q.    (Sediment  Pipe 
Toffoof 


ELEVATION  ON  LINE  7-Z 


4  "To  Suet  ion  Tank 


Jl      J        \       ) 
from  Suction  Tank7  /         *• 

To  Intermediate  Tanks.-'          ^ToUpper  Tank 

THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD 


PLUMBING  IN  THE  AMERICAN  SURETY  BUILDING.    NEW   YORK   CITY 


164 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


311  feet  in  extreme  height  above  the  sidewalk.  It  is 
intended  for  about  125  suites  of  offices,  exclusive  of 
all  the  rooms  on  four  floors,  which  are  occupied  by 
the  American  Surety  Company,  and  contains  a  large 
mechanical  plant  for  the  different  branches  of  power, 
heating  and  lighting  service,  etc.  The  general  con- 
struction is  of  the  modern  fireproof  steel-cage  system, 
and  th£  equipment  throughout  is  intended  to  be  of 
the  most  improved  and  complete  nature,  as  designed 
and  approved  by  the  architect,  Bruce  Price,  of  New 
York  City. 

Mr.  E.  A.  Rogers  was  the  architect's  assistant  in 
charge  of  construction  throughput  the  entire  time  of 
building.  The  plumbing  contract  was  let  to  James 
Armstrong  for  about  $45,000,  and  was  executed  by 
him  to  conform  to  the  general  plans  and  details  aad 
comprehensive  specifications  upon  which  the  esti- 


pipe  D  is  connected  to  two  No.  8  Continental  filters,* 
which  are  provided  with  the  necessary  washout  and 
waste  and  gate  valves  arranged  to  have  the  water 
pass  through  the  filters  or  go  around  them  through  a 
by-pass,  and  so  that  either  or  both  the  filters  may  be 
thrown  in  or  out  of  service  at  will.  The  4-inch  de- 
livery pipe  E  from  the  filters  supplies  the  3, ooo-gal- 
lon  suction  tank  through  four  2-inch  ball  cocks  oper- 
ated by  copper  floats  so  as  to  automatically  shut  off 
the  supply  wben  the  tank,  which  is  essentially  an 
open  one,  in  that  it  is  not  designed  to  receive  any 
pressure,  is  full.  This  tank  is  in  a  pit  under  the 
machine-room  floor  and  it  is  built  of  ^-inch  boiler- 
iron,  sxs-inch  angles  and  tie-rods,  furnished  with 
an  iron  cover  and  lock  and  set  in  a  safe  pan  with  3- 
inch  waste  for  drainage.  There  is  a  3  inch  valved 
emptying  pipe  and  a  5-inch  galvanized-iron  overflow 


THC 


Cold  Water  Drum     Hot  Water  Drum 

PLUMBING   IN  THE   AMERICAN   SURETY  BUILDING,    NEW  YORK   CITY. 


mates  and  bids  were  based.  The  plan,  arrangement, 
and  details  of  operation  of  the  system  were  designed 
by  Mr.  Rogers,  and  its  installation  was  superintended 
by  him,  and  from  his  original  data  the  following  de- 
scription of  the  characteristic  features  and  operation 
has  been  chiefly  prepared 

The  water  supply  is  taken  from  the  city  mains 
through  one  4-inch  and  two  2-inch  pipes  which  are 
connected  by  4-inch  brass  unions  and  gate  valve  with 
a  s  inch  Westinghouse  meter  provided  with  a  by- 
pass to  enable  it  to  be  cut  out  if  necessary  without 
shutting  off  the  supply  to  the  building,  as  shown 
in  Fig.  i,  where  valve  A  in  the  by-pass  is 
usually  kept  closed  and  all  the  other  valves  open. 
By  closing  valves  B  and,  C  and  opening  A  the  meter 
can  be  thrown  out  of  service  without  interrupting 
the  supply.  Beyond  the  meter  the  4-inch  delivery 


pipe,  not  shown  in  Fig.  2,  and  the  pumps  are  sup- 
plied by  5-inch  suction  pipes  laid  in  iron-covered 
boxes.  All  pipes  connected  to  the  tank  are  screwed 
into  riveted  iron  flanges.  The  two  I4"x7"xio"  Worth- 
ington  steam  pumps  are  supplied,  as  shown  in  Fig.  2, 
both  from  the  suction  tank  and  directly  from  the 
street  main  E,  and  they  are  cross-connected  and  dis- 
charge into  the  tank  or  fire  systems  as  shown  in 
Fig.  3.  Each  pump  is  fitted  with  a  Fisher  governor 
set  so  as  to  automatically  close  the  steam  valve  when 
the  water  in  the  house  tanks  reaches  the  upper  level 
required,  and  to  open  it  as  soon  as  the  water  falls 
below  that  maximum  level. 

*The  arrangement  and  connections  of  these  filters  are 
conventionally  indicated  in  Pig.  x  to  show  the  operation  of 
the  system,  but  they  are  not  drawn  to  exact  scale  or  posi- 
t  on. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 
0  £'  10' 


165 


FLANS 


a-  5"  From  Roof  Tanks 


'-4"0verf low  from  Open  Tank 


a-  -5" from  mot  tanks  a- 4"0verrlow  from  Open  Tank 

j}-2"Settiment8<  Emptying  Pipe     e-4"From  House  Pumps  toOpen  Tank 
r- i  c  - 5 "  fjualwng Pipe  pf~4  "  To  Roof  Tanks  ,-, 

^%^%^"7"    '"—•••  <'//?W/////////////A  wfr 

"TX 


%%%%%%^^^ 

SIDE  ELEVATION 


END  ELEVATION 

PMJMTCTNG   IX   THE    AMERICAN   SURETY    BUILDING,    NEW   YORK   CITY. 


166 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


The  normal  service  of  these  pumps  will  be  to  de- 
liver all  the  water  used  in  the  building  (except  that 
taken  directly  from  the  mains  for  basement  lines)  to 
the  house  tanks  on  the  main  roof.  These  tanks  sup- 
ply the  intermediate  tanks  on  the  eleventh  story,  and 
having  a  connection  with  the  fire  line,  which  would 
utilize  their  whole  contents  for  a  gravity  head  for 
immediate  use  before  the  operation  of  the  fire  pump. 
Either  pump,  when  in  high-pressure  service,  must 
be  cut  off  from  the  other  or  house  pump  and  then 
operates  against  a  check  valve  that  cuts  off  the  roof 
tank  from  an  upward  flow.  The  pump  connection 
to  the  intermediate  tank  is  usually  closed,  but  may 
be  opened  if  it  is  desired  to  pump  directly  into  that 
tank,  when  the  service  must  be  controlled  by  the 
electric  high  and  low  water  gauges,  the  indexes  of 
which  show  the  heights  of  water  in  all  tanks  on  dials 
in  the  engine-room. 

Figure  4  is  a  plan  of  the  main  house  tanks,  which 
are  situated  in  a  room  on  the  twentieth  floor  about 
350  feet  above  the  level  of  the  pumps,  and  have  a 
combined  capacity  of  10,000  gallons,  which  affords 
storage  estimated  to  be  sufficient,  with  that  of  the 
suction  tank,  for  24  hours'  supply. 

Figure  5  is  an  elevation  at  Z  Z,  Fig.  4,  showing  the 
vertical  pipes,  drip  pan,  special  supporting  girders, 
etc.  The  tanks  are  filled  through  eight  2-inch  ball 
cocks  that  automatically  close  when  the  tank  is  full. 
Then  the  continued  action  of  the  pumps  against  the 
closed  valve  produces  an  increased  pressure  that  op- 
erates the  regulating  valve,  and  shutting  off  steam 
stops  the  pumps  until  the  drawing  of  water  from  the 
tanks  opens  the  ball  cocks,  relieves  the  pressure,  and 
steam  is  again  admitted  to  the  pumps.  The  ball 
cocks  discharge  through  hush  pipes,  extending 
nearly  to  the  bottom  of  the  tanks,  and  all  the  deliv- 
ery pipes  from  the  tanks  have  controlling  valves 
near  the  tank,  and  just  below  them  vent  pipes  ex- 
tending up  to  above  the  tank  so  as  to  facilitate  the 
emptying  of  the  pipe  by  admitting  atmospheric 
pressure  on  top  of  the  water  inside  when  the  upper 
valve  is  closed.  All  the  toilet-rooms,  washbasins, 
and  slopsinks  above  the  tenth  floor  are  supplied 
directly  from  the  upper  tanks  by  the  lines  taken 
from  the  header  shown  in  Figs.  4  and  5,  and  each  of 
these  separate  small  falling  mains  has  a  drip  cock  at 
the  bottom  to  empty  it  into  a  sink  if  necessary.  As 
before  explained,  the  4-inch  fire  line  is  direct  from 
the  pump  to  the  tanks,  and  is  arranged  to  operate 
both  under  tank  pressure  and  direct  high  pump 
pressure.  At  every  story  a  3-inch  fire  valve  is  set  on 
it,  and  fitted  with  100  feet  of  2>£-inch  three-ply 
heavy  unlined  linen  fire  hose,  tested  and  guaranteed 
to  a  pressure  of  300  pounds  per  square  inch,  and 
wound  on  a  swinging  bracket  reel.  The  overflow 
and  emptying  pipes  discharge  on  the  roof,  where 
their  contents  can  be  received  in  the  rainwater  lead- 
ers and  their  open  ends  are  protected  by  brass  flap 
valves. 

Since  the  pressure  due  to  the  head  of  the  supply 
from  the  upper  tanks,  which  reaches  140  pounds 
maximum,  would  be  excessive  for  the  fixtures  in  the 
lower  part  of  the  building,  all  supplies  below  the 
eleventh  floor  are  taken  from  intermediate  tanks 


placed  in  the  tenth  and  eleventh  stories  as  shown  in 
the  elevations,  Fig.  6.  These  tanks  are  in  effect  two 
sections  of  one  tank,  and  are  designed  to  operate  as 
one,  but  were  constructed  separately  to  enable  them 
to  utilize  the  limited  portions  of  space  that  could 
best  be  assigned  to  them  without  obstructing  the 
floors  or  infringing  on  rentable  room.  Portions  of 
upper  parts  of  the  lavatories  in  the  tenth  and 
eleventh  stories  were  provided  with  double  ceilings, 
and  in  these  spaces  suspended  by  iron  straps  from 
the  steel  floor  beams  above  were  placed  the  tanks 
constructed  of  the  dimensions  required  to  fit  their 
given  position.  The  upper  tank  is  a  rectangular 
open  one  supplemented  by  a  closed  cylindrical  one 
about  13  feet  below  it,  with  which  it  freely  connects 
with  a  5-inch  equalizing  pipe.  The  normal  supply 
to  the  tanks  is  through  four  2-inch  ball  cocks  at- 
tached to  a  4-inch  vertical  main  opening  into  the 
bottom  of  the  upper  tanks.  There  is  also  a  4-inch 
rising  main  direct  from  the  steam  pumps  through 
which  the  tanks  can  be  independently  filled  by  open- 
ing a  valve  that  is  usually  kept  closed.  The  supply 
to  the  basement  drums,  whence  distribution  is  made 
for  the  lower  stories,  is  through  the  4-inch  pipe  a, 
valves  B,  C,  and  D  being  open,  and  valve  E  being 
closed.  By  opening  valve  E  and  closing  valves  B 
and  F,  the  lower  system  can  be  supplied  directly 
from  the  roof  tanks.  An  overflow  is  provided  for 
the  open  tanks,  but  none  is  of  course  needed  for  the 
lower  closed  tank.  Each  tank  has  a  separate  valved 
connection  to  the  waste  pipe,  through  which  its  con- 
tents may  be  independently  emptied  into  a  basement 
sink. 

Figure  7  is  a  plan  of  the  open  and  Fig.  8  is  a  plan 
of  the  closed  or  auxiliary  tank. 

PART  II. — HOT- WATER  AND  COLD-WATER  DISTRIBUTION. 

As  BEFORE  stated,  all  the  water  used  in  the  build- 
ing, except  for  some  purposes  in  the  basement  and 
cellar,  is  ordinarily  first  pumped  up  to  the  twenty- 
first  story,  and  is  either  distributed  from  there  by 
separate  lines  that  run  from  those  tanks  to  all  fixtures 
above  the  tenth  floor  or  is  drawn  (through  an  over- 
flow pipe)  to  an  open  eleventh-floor  tank  that  supplies 
all  lower  stories,  thus  reducing  the  maximum  press- 
ure to  about  70  pounds,  or  one-half  of  what  would  be 
due  to  the  extreme  height  from  the  pumps  to  the 
upper  tank.  The  eleventh-floor  tank  serves  merely 
to  regulate  the  head  and  store  a  small  supply,  hardly 
more  than  enough  to  insure  abundant  provision  for 
sudden  severe  draft.  It  is  not  conveniently  accessible 
for  constant  examination  and  regulation,  and  is  so 
arranged  as  never  to  require  any  attention  except  in 
case  of  accident  or  periodical  inspection  and  cleaning 
unless  some  unusual  necessity  occasions  it  to  be 
filled  direct  from  the  pumps  or  to  be  cut  out  of  ser- 
vice, when  its  valves  would  have  to  be  reversed.  Its 
discharge  pipe,  the  falling  main  shown  in  Figs. 
6,  7,  8,  is  connected  in  the  basement  machine- 
room  with  the  hot  and  cold  water  drums  shown 
in  Fig.  9,  and  also  outlined  in  Fig.  2.  These 
drums  also  have  a  direct  connection  to  the  street- 
pressure  supply  by  a  4-inch  pipe,  in  which  a  check 
valve  is  set,  opening  towards  the  drums  so  that  tank 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


167 


water  could  not  escape  into  the  street  through  it  if 
its  valve  should  accidentally  be  left  open.  From  these 
drums  separate  rising  mains  are  carried  as  required 
for  all  the  water  supply,  for  plumbing  fixtures,  up 
to  the  eleventh  story.  The  cold-water  drum  is  of 
steel  tested  and  guaranteed  to  600  pounds  pressure 
per  square  inch;  it  is  24  inches  in  diameter  by  74 
inches  long,  with  manhole  and  cover,  and  is  sup- 
ported on  iron  standards. 

The  rising  mains  vary  in  size  according  to  their  re- 
quired service,  and  in  some  instance  diminish  in  size 
upwards,  starting,  for  example,  as  for  line  B,  at  il/2 
inches  up  to  the  sixth  floor,  and  therce  running  i% 
inches  to  the  ninth  floor,  the  section  being  thus  pro- 
portioned to  the  fixtures  beyond  it.  The  construction 
of  drums  and  connection  of  manifold  tor  the  conven- 
ient connection  of  pipes,  the  arrangement  and  valv- 


manded  by  a  Powers  automatic  regulating  attach- 
ment adjusted  to  shut  off  steam  when  the  temperature 
of  the  water  exceeds  200  degrees.  This  drum  is 
supplied  like  the  cold-water  one,  from  the  interme- 
diate eleventh-floor  tank,  and  distributes  hot  water 
through  similar  risers  connected  to  its  upper  mani- 
fold to  all  the  lavatories  up  to  the  eleventh  floor,  and 
to  all  the  isolated  washbasins  up  to  tbe  seventh  floor. 
From  the  top  of  each  of  these  rising  lines  a  return 
circulation  pipe  one  size  smaller  than  the  smallest  or 
uppermost  section  of  the  hot  water  pipe  is  brought 
directly  down  to  the  lower  manifold  that  communi- 
cates with  the  drum  as  shown  by  the  two  3-inch 
branches  similarly  to  the  flow  connections  above. 
A  vent  and  relief  pipe  is  carried  from  the  top  of  one 
of  the  risers  and  inverted,  open,  above  the  house 
tank. 


ELE.OFHOT  WATER  DRUM 
FROM  A-A 


PLUMBING   IN  THE  AMERICAN  SURETY  BUILDING,   NEW  YORK  CITY. 


ing  of  risers,  and  provision  of  drip  pipes  for  cutting 
out  and  emptying  any  line,  are  clearly  shown  in  Fig. 
9.  An  air  vent  and  pressure  relief  is  secured  by  ex- 
tending a  i-inch  pipe  up  from  the  top  of  one  of  the 
risers  and  turning  it  over  open  above  the  top  of  the 
house  tank.  Besides  the  services  mentioned  distribu- 
tion is  made  for  boiler- feed  pumps,  injectors,  elevator 
pit  pump,  drips,  and  blow-off  tanks,  etc.,  by  means  of 
a  receiving  tank  in  the  subcellar,  from  which  the 
water  is  automatically  discharged  into  the  sewer  by 
means  of  a  float-valve  connected  pump.  All  pipes  to 
pumps  and  hot  and  cold  water  drums  are  connected 
up  with  ground  brass  flanged  unions,  so  that  repairs 
can  be  made  without  disturbing  the  runs  of  pipes. 

Adjacent  to  the  cold-water  drum  is  a  hot-water 
drum,  24x76  inches,  tested  and  guaranteed  to  600 
pounds  pressure  per  square  inch,  and  provided 
with  a  manhole  and  cover.  Inside  this  drum  is 
a  single  loop  of  large,  heavy  brass  pipe  con- 
nected with  both  live  and  exhaust  steam  mains 
and  drips  to  a  steam  trap  and  floor  drain.  The 
steam  supply  pipe  has  a  hand  valve  and  is  also  corn- 


All  flow,  circulation,  and  drip  pipes  are  symmet- 
rically arranged  and  valved  as  shown  so  as  to  permit 
the  independent  operation  and  emptying,  and  the 
drum  is  cased  with  non-conducting  covering  A 
hot- water  supply  for  the  upper  part  of  the  building  is 
secured  without  increasing  extreme  pressure  on  the 
basement  heater  or  lower  parts  of  the  pipes  by  the 
unusual  expedient  of  making  an  intermediate  heating 
system  and  distributing  hot  water  for  the  upper  ser- 
vice from  an  elevated  heater.  To  this  end  a  No.  3 
Berryman  feed-water  heater  is  set  on  steel  cross- 
beams built  into  the  walls  of  the  ventilating 
shaft  in  the  ninth  story  and  connected  up  as  shown 
in  Fig.  10.  Just  below  the  back-pressure  valve  in 
the  exhaust  pipe,  which  is  set  at  five  pounds,  a  branch 
is  taken  out  and  steam  supplied  through  a  pressure 
regulating  valve  set  at  three  pounds.  Steam  cir- 
culates from  the  heater  into  the  main  exhaust  pipe 
above  its  back-pressure  valve  and  escapes  freely  into 
the  atmosphere  above  the  roof.  Both  steam  pipes 
have  a  2  inch  drip  connection,  and  the  heater  may  be 
emptied  through  a  2  inch  mud  pipe,  another  2  inch 


168 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


pipe  is  provided  for  a  surface  blow-off  and  the  cold 
water  is  introduced  in  the  power  part  of  the  heater 
opposite  to  the  entrance  of  the  two  return  circulation 
pipes. 

The  cold-water  supply  pipe  is  taken  directly  from 
the  manifold  at  the  twenty-first  story  tank  as 
shown  in  Fig.  4.  The  two  hot-water  distribution 
mains  supply  all  the  main  toilet-rooms  from  the  tenth 


i/ii/iiiiiiiiii/iiiiiiiiniii 


W/f////////////////////////, 


PLAN 


0     !'  Z'  3'  4' 

|"'|      i      i      i 
Scale 


ELEVATION 

to  the  twentieth  stories  inclusive,  and  together  with 
the  return  circulation  pipes  are  run  horizontally  in  a 
wood  box  lined  with  four-pound  sheet  lead,  with 
a  water-tight  cover  of  18  ounce  copper  with  the  edges 
turned  over  and  hermetically  sealed.  Under  the 
heater  is  placed  a  heavy  sheet-iron  drip  pan,  con- 
nected with  the  above-mentioned  box,  which  has  a 
ij4-inch  waste  pipe  emptying  into  a  slopsink  on  the 
eleventh  floor.  The  horizontal  portions  of  the  pipes 
are  placed  on  rollers  and  firmly  secured  at  the  center 
with  the  ends  left  free  to  act.  Each  of  the  supply 
and  circulation  pipes  is  provided  with  valves  so  that 


they  may  be  turned  off  independently.  The  pipes 
and  heater  drain  into  the  nearest  waste  line.  The 
pressure  regulating  valve  in  the  branch  supplying 
steam  to  the  heater  has  a  three-pound  counterweight 
opposed  to  its  regulating  weight  so  that  it  is  about 
balanced,  and  it  is  connected  to  a  thermostat  inside 
the  heater,  set  so  as  to  shut  off  steam  when  the  tem- 
perature of  the  water  rises  to  200  degrees. 

PART    III  —MAIN    LINES    OF    PIPES,    DRAINAGE,  CESSPOOL 
TANK    AND    TESTS. 

BESIDES  the  mains  to  and  from  the  tanks,  there  are 
eight  sets  of  vertical  water  pipes  supplying  groups  of 
fixtures,  and  these  lines  are  run  in  all  cases  adjacent 
to  the  columns  of  the  main  framework  of  the  build- 
ing. All  lines  of  cold-water  supply  pipes  (except 
where  nickel-plated  brass  pipe  is  used)  are  lap- 
wekied  standard  galvanized  iron  pipes,  warranted 
to  have  been  tested  to  withstand  a  pressure  of  500 
pounds  per  square  inch.  All  hot-water  supply  and 
circulation  pipes  are  heavy  tinned  and  annealed 
brass  pipes,  warranted  to  have  been  tested  to  stand 
a  pressure  of  600  pounds  per  square  inch.  All  hot 
and  cold  water  supply  branches  for  fixtures  are  taken 
from  the  rising  lines  above  mentioned,  and  where 
exposed  they  are  nickel-p1ated  brass.  Branches  are 
of  the  following  sizes:  Single  basins,  one-half 
inch;  two  or  more  basins,  three-fourths  inch; 
slopsink  and  engineer's  sink,  three-fourths  inch; 
all  flush  tanks,  one-half  inch  or  three-fourths 
inch,  according  to  size.  All  supply  pipes  for 
hot  and  cold  water  are  increased  one  size,  from 
the  source  of  supply  to  the  vertical  or  falling 
point.  This  is  in  addition  to  the  sizes  specified, 
and  shown  on  the  drawings.  All  rising  lines  are 
provided  with  metal-faced  flanged  couplers  at  every 
other  floor,  in  such  a  manner  that  the  pipe  may  be 
disconnected  and  sections  cut  without  disturbing 
section  above  or  below.  All  pipes  of  every  descrip- 
tion are  laid  to  drain  completely.  All  supply  pipes 
were  tested  by  the  contractor  with  a  pressure  pump 
and  high-pressure  spring  gauge  to  a  pressure  of  125 
pounds  per  square  inch.  Each  column  of  fixtures. 
A,  B,  BB,  C,  D,  E.  F,  G,  H,  and  I,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  isolated  washbasins  in  offices  from  the  eighth 
to  the  twentieth  story,  each  inclusive,  has  independent 
risers  for  hot,  cold,  and  circulation,  with  stop  valve, 
drainout  valve,  and  drip  at  the  base  of  each  column. 
The  circulation  pipe  is  one  size  smaller  than  the  hot- 
water  pipe,  and  connects  with  the  hot-water  pipe  at 
the  highest  point  of  the  fixture,  with  a  branch  taken 
above  to  supply  a  fixture  to  relieve  the  circulating 
head  from  the  accumulation  of  air. 

On  each  of  the  hot-water  risers  there  are  expansion 
loops  on  every  third  floor,  beginning  at  the  bottom. 
All  pipes  are  supported  between  the  loops,  allowing 
the  pipe  to  expand  from  the  first  support  back  to  the 
lower  loop  from  the  next  support  above  and  so  on. 
Circulating  pipes  are  also  provided  with  loops  top  and 
bottom,  and  in  intermediate  places  where  they  are 
connected  directly  with  the  hot-water  main  and 
branches.  Loops  are  provided  on  branches,  thus 
avoiding  any  direct  connections  or  short  connections 
with  the  main.  In  these  instances  care  was  taken  to 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


169 


allow  the  branches  connecting  with  mains  to  expand 
with  the  main.  All  tank  service,  hot  and  circulation 
risers  have  at  least  three  expansion  loops  in  the  ver- 
tical run.  The  pipes  are  clamped  and  hung  midway 
between  the  loops  and  the  ends  of  the  risers.  The 
clamps  are  firmly  secured  to  the  beams.  All  water 
pipes  have  frequent  heavy  flanged  ground  brass 
unions  to  admit  of  easy  alteration  and  repair. 

All  joints  and  connections  between  lead  and  iron 
pipes  are  made  by  means  of  extra  heavy,  carefully 
inspected  brass  screw  ferrules  or  nipples.  The  fer- 
rules are  screwed  into  the  iron  fittings  and  connected 
with  the  lead  pipes  by  means  of  solder  wiped  joints. 
All  main  lines  of  drain,  soil,  waste,  leader,  and  vent 
pipes  are  of  heavy  wrought-iron  pipes,  of  the  follow- 
ing weights  per  running  foot:  8-inch  pipe,  24^ 
pounds  per  foot;  6-inch  pipe,  14^  pounds  per  foot; 
4-inch  pipe,  10%  pounds  per  foot;  3-inch  pipe,  7^ 
pounds  per  foot;  2-inch  pipe,  zlA.  pounds  per  foot.  All 
pipes  and  fittings  were  required  to  be  tested  by  hy- 
drostatic pressure  of  300  pounds  per  square  inch, 
and  by  the  hammer  test,  before  leaving  the  pipe 
mills,  and  the  contractor  filed  a  written  guarantee  that 
tests  had  been  so  applied.  All  fittings  are  of  special 
wrought-iron,  flush,  and  the  pipes  when  screwed  to- 


SIDE  ELEVATION 


t  Boiler  Room  floor  /-Cover 

3*  Suction  Pipe  3 

a 

,'     ••            cb 

Strainer  EE  |J 

FiG.12 


SECTION 


a-Manho!e 

b-3"Pipeto Blow-off  Tank 

c-3" 'Drain  Pipe 


For  Overflows  from  Pumps- 
Tanks  sc. 

THE   ENGINEERING  RECORD. 


PLAN 


gether  have  a  smooth  interior  surface.  All  joints  ol 
iron  pipes  are  screw  joints,  made  with  a  mixture  of 
red  and  white  lead  and  oil.  Rising  lines  of  soil,  vent, 
and  waste  pipes  connect  with  the  main  drains  and  rise 
to  the  roof  in  columns  marked  AB,  BB,  C,  D,  E,  F, 


10' 


>  WetalLath 
\     ':    4" Overflow 
\    '4' Falling  Main 
4  "To  Intermediate  Tank 
"  To  Poof  Tank 
PLANATA-A 


THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD 


ELEVATION  LOOKING  SOUTH    ELEVATION  I DOKING  EAST 
PLUMBING  IN  THE  AMERICAN   SURETY   BUILDING,   NEW  YORK  CITY. 


170 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


G,  H,  and  I,  as  shown  on  the  plans.  All  vent  lines 
increase  2  inches  in  diameter,  before  passing  through 
the  roof.  Where  the  pipes  pass  through  the  roof 
they  are  made  water-tight  by  means  of  24-ounce  cop- 
per sleeves  fitting  around  the  pipe  atfd  extending 
down  on  the  roof  at  least  6  inches  all  round.  After 
the  roof  was  completed,  the  flashing  was  overflashed 
with  24-ounce  copper  as  above.  All  back-air  lines 
are  dripped  at  the  bottom  of  the  line  and  all  the 
branches  for  vents  from  fixtures  are  set  high  and 
above  the  overflow  point  of  the  fixture,  so  that  the 
vent  line  cannot  act  as  a  waste  pipe  in  case  of  stop- 
page. 

There  are  three  leader  lines  of  5-inch  extra  heavy 
wrought-iron  pipe,  marked,  carried  full  size  to  the 
roof,  and  connected  there  with  I2"xi2"xi2"  copper 
boxes  by  extra  heavy  brass  soldering  nipples.  These 
connections  are  made  with  the  5-inch  leaders  by 
means  of  5-inch  pipe  connecting  with  the  gutter  of 
the  cornice  at  the  twentieth  story.  These  connections 


On  the  house  side  of  the  8- inch  main  sewer  trap 
there  is  a  6-inch  fresh-air  inlet  extending  up  to 
the  sidewalk  near  the  curb,  and  there  provided  with 
a  galvanized-iron  box  and  frame  2  feet  long,  2  feet 
deep,  and  14  inches  wide.  Over  this  box  is  a  brass- 
grating  leaded  in  the  sidewalk.  All  branch  connec- 
tions are  Y-T's  or  Y's  and  ^-inch  bends.  The  Y- 
branch  connections  are  well  turned  up.  Only  "  long  " 
bends  are  used.  With  the  exception  of  the  valves 
directly  at  the  fixtures,  all  valves  on  supply  lines  at 
tanks,  at  pumps,  etc.,  are  provided  with  polished 
cast-brass  tags  properly  numbered  to  correspond 
with  printed  lists  giving  the  location,  description,  and 
use  of  every  such  valve  in  the  building. 

After  all  the  drain,  soil,  waste,  and  vent  pipes  had 
been  run  in  the  building,  with  the  lead  or  iron  bends 
or  branches  from  fixtures  set  and  connected  with  the 
upright  stacks,  and  before  any  fixtures  were  set  and 
connected,  and  the  drain  permanently  connected 
with  the  sewers,  the  tightness  of  all  joints  and  sound- 


BROADWAY 

PLUMBING   IN    THE   AMERICAN    SURETY   BUILDING,    NEW    YORK    CITY. 


between  leader  and  gutter  are  made  by  means  of  cop- 
per boxes,  and  24-ounce  copper  tubes,  wiped  to  extra 
heavy  brass  soldering  nipples,  with  heavy  soldered 
joints.  Over  the  mouth  of  each  le'ader  is  a  heavy 
brass  basket. 

These  rainwater  leaders  have  5-inch  extra  heavy 
cast-iron  traps,  provided  with  two  4-inch  brass  screw 
caps.  All  vent  pipes  are  graded  so  as  to  discharge 
the  water  collected  by  condensation,  and  connected 
at  the  bottom  with  the  drain,  soil,  or  waste  pipes,  in 
such  manner  as  to  avoid  obstruction  from  accumu- 
lated rust.  The  bottom  of  all  vent  pipes  receives  the 
wash  from  some  fixture.  All  horizontal  pipes  are 
carried  with  a  continuous  descent,  in  no  case  less  than 
one-fourth  inch  per  foot.  Where  pipes  run  along 
brick  walls  they  are  supported  on  the  walls  by 
heavy  special  wrought-iron  semicircular  straps,  with 
holes  for  expansion  bolts. 


ness  of  iron  pipes,  was  tested  by  the  contractor,  who 
closed  all  openings  of  soil,  waste,  drain,  and  vent 
pipes  and  ends  of  horizontal  drains.  The  lead  bends 
or  branches  were  soldered  and  braced  up  where  re- 
quired to  withstand  the  pressure,  and  the  whole  sys- 
tem of  piping  was  filled  with  water  to  the  top  of  the 
building,  and  remained  for  five  hours  without  show- 
ing perceptible  leakage. 

Figure  1 1  shows  the  arrangement  ana  manner  of 
carrying  the  tank  riser  pipes  from  the  basement  to 
the  eighth  floor,  and  the  offsets  made.  Above  this 
point  they  are  run  straight  in  an  air  shaft,  accessible 
for  inspection,  etc.  Figure  12  shows  a  wrought-iron 
cesspool  3  feet  deep,  4  feet  6  inches  square,  strongly 
riveted  and  provided  with  two  manholes,  set  flush 
with  the  floor.  The  tank  is  made  with  two  com- 
partments, one  to  receive  the  sewage,  and  the 
other  to  receive  a  Kieley  governor,  which  automat- 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


171 


ically  controls  a  blow-off  pump,  by  which  the  con- 
tents of  the  tank  are  automatically  pumped  out 
and  discharged  through  a  waste  pipe  terminating 
in  a  brass  flap  valve  over  a  sink  that  is  trapped 
into  the  sewer.  This  arrangement  is  necessitated 
because  the  boiler-room  floor  is  below  the  level 
of  the  street  sewer. 

PART    IV. — FLOOR      PLANS     AND    DETAILS    AT    FIXTURES. 

THE  American  Surety  Company  uses  the  fourth, 
fifth,  sixth,  and  seventh  stories  for  its  own  purposes, 
the  first,  second,  and  third  stories  are  devoted  to 
banks  and  special  commercial  purposes,  and  all  have 
washbowls,  closets  etc.,  arranged  to  conform  to  their 
special  requirements.  Above  the  seventh  floor  the 
building  is  intended  to  be  rented  in  suites  of  private 


offices,  and  the  arrangement  of  rooms  and  plumbing 
fixtures  throughout  is  similar  to  that  shown  in  Fig. 

13,  which  is  a  plan  of  the  eighth  floor  and  typical  of 
all  floors  above  it  except  the  eleventh,  shown  in  Fig. 

14,  and  the  thirteenth,  which  is  very  much  like  it. 
Figure  15  shows  the  arrangement  and  connection 

for  two  interior  washbasins  supplied  from  one  set  of 
risers  that  are  carried  in  the  partition. 

Figure  16  similarly  shows  two  basins,  the  risers  to 
which  are  run  along  an  interior  column. 

Figure  1 7  shows  the  arrangement  and  connections 
when  only  a  single  basin  is  served  from  an  interior 
column  line. 

Figure  18  is  where  two  basins  are  set  adjacent  to 
an  exterior  column,  and  Fig.  19  is  where  a  single 
basin  is  set  against  an  interior  wall. 


»    ColdWater^ 
r////fi////////* 


^_J 


PLAN 


PLAN 
y                                          v 

.Waste*  Vent         6 
h  /Cote!  Water     •  i 
//////////////////XT/fa'//////////////;/'. 

Circulation--  o 
Hot  Hbter.-& 

B»^^P3 

o 

THE  ENOINESWNO  RECORD. 


PLUMBING    IN    THE   AMERICAN    SURETY   BUILDING,    NEW    YORK    CITY. 


172 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


Figures  17.  18,  and  19  show  the  expansion  loop  in- 
troduced in  the  hot-water  riser  to  compensate  for 
temperature  elongations,  and  in  all  these  figures  the 
hot  and  cold  water  faucets  above  the  basins  and 
waste  valve  are  omitted  to  avoid  confusion. 

In  all  lavatories  and  at  all  isolated  basins,  all  ex- 
posed pipes  at  fixtures  (not  the  rising  supply  mains) 
are  nickel-plated  brass  pipes.  There  are  separate 
shut-offs  for  the  supplies  to  each  and  every  fixture, 
including  shut-effs  at  each  urinal  and  each  water- 
closet  flushing  cistern.  All  water-closets  have  glazed 
earthenware  traps  molded  in  one  piece  with  the 
water-closet  bowl.  All  connections  between  floor 
flanges  of  water-closets  and  iron  pipe  are  made  with 
short  lengths  of  D  lead  pipe  to  avoid  rigid  connec- 
tion. Besides  iron  sinks  and  some  fixtures  in  the 
subbasement,  the  list  of  bowls,  etc.  throughout  the 
building  is  as  follows : 


Story. 

Water-closets. 

Urinals. 

Washbowls. 

Slopsinks. 

Basement  

First        

Second   

Third  

Fourth  

6 

Fifth   , 

Sixth  

8 

Seventh  

Eighth  

Ninth  to  Twentieth  in- 
clusive   

60 

Total  

PLUMBING  IN  THE  PRESBYTERIAN 
BUILDING. 

(PUBLISHED  IN  1895.) 

PART  I  — GENERAL  DESCRIPTION,  CLASSIFICATION  OF 
WORK,  CHARACTER  OF  WATER,  SEWER,  AND  VENT 
PIPES  AND  CONNECTIONS,  BASEMENT  CESSPOOLS  AND 
DIAGRAM  OF  WATER-PRESSURE  SYSTEMS. 

THE  Presbyterian  Building,  at  Twentieth  Street 
and  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York  City,  is  a  large  12- 
story  edifice  planned,  constructed,  and  equipped 
essentially  upon  the  lines  of  modern  metropolitan 
office  buildings,  but  having  some  additional  features, 
such  as  a  large  first-floor  chapel  or  auditorium,  com- 
mittee rooms,  etc.  The  main  part  of  the  building  is 
however  devoted  to  stores  and  upper- story  offices, 
and  by  the  requirements  of  such  uses  the  features  of 
the  plumbing  are  mainly  determined.  Mr.  J.  B. 
Baker,  C.  E.,  is  the  architect  and  engineer,  and  the 
plumbing  was  executed  in  conformity  with  his  plans 
and  detailed  specifications  by  Messrs.  Byrne  & 
Murphy,  of  New  York  City. 

The  plumbing  comprises  the  cold-water  street 
supply,  which  is  received  in  a  suction  tank  and 
pumped  to  storage  tanks  in  the  roof  house,  and 
thence  brought  down  to  distribution  drums  in  the 
basement,  where  the  separate  risers  to  different  lines 
of  fixtures  are  controlled;  three  fire  lines  with  hose 


connections  on  every  floor;  hot-water  service  to 
sinks,  toilet-rooms,  and  janitor's  apartments;  wash- 
basins in  offices  and  elsewhere,  public  urinals  and 
water-closets,  slopsinks,  basement  sinks,  and  fixtures 
in  janitor's  apartments;  waste  and  soil  pipe  and  trap- 
vent  system;  local  vents  from  all  water-closets  and 
urinals,  roof  drainage,  and  cellar-floor  drainage. 
The  fixtures,  connections,  and  piping,  etc.  in  offices 
and  toilet-rooms,  etc.,  present  a  neat  and  attractive 
appearance  and  workmanlike  finish,  while  the  princi- 
pal features  of  design  and  arrangement  are  developed 
in  the  systems  of  receiving,  storing,  elevating,  dis- 
tributing, and  controlling  the  water  supply,  and  are 
chiefly  connected  with  the  storage  tanks  and  the 
pump-room  apparatus,  both  of  which  are  unusually 
well  provided  for  in  convenient  and  attractive  loca- 
tions. 

The  special  tanks  are  built  in  a  large  room  with 
finished  floor  and  good  lights,  just  beneath  the  steep- 
pitched  roof,  and  the  room  is  warmed  by  a  steam 
radiator.  The  pumps,  hot-water  boiler,  distribution 
drum,  and  valves  controlling  the  separate  supply 
lines  are  compactly  and  systematically  arranged  in 
one  part  of  the  engineer's  room,  at  all  times  access- 
ible and  convenient  for  his  inspection  and  control. 
An  ample  floor  space  in  the  basement  is  devoted  to 
the  engine-room,  which  contains  the  engines,  pumps, 
dynamos,  feed-water  heaters,  electric  switchboard, 
much  of  the  plumbing  apparatus,  etc.,  and  is  a  high, 
light,  and  well- ventilated  apartment,  tastefully  fin- 
ished with  glazed  tiling,  all  carefully  designed  and 
adapted  to  the  purposes  of  the  large  mechanical  and 
power  plant  of  the  building.  It  forms  an  attractive 
hall,  the  apparatus  being  well  displayed  and  the 
whole  arrangement  conducive  to  sanitary  conditions 
and  the  proper  operation  of  the  different  installations 
there. 

The  three  main  house  sewers  from  street  sewers 
to  the  inside  of  the  house  traps  are  extra-heavy  cast 
iron  tested  and  tarred.  All  pipes  in  the  soil,  vent, 
waste,  and  leader  system  inside  of  the  house  traps 
are  of  best  lap-welded  extra-heavy  standard  wrought- 
iron  steam  pipe,  and  of  these  all  the  vent  or  back-air 
pipes  throughout  are  galvanized,  and  all  the  others 
are  thoroughly  coated  with  asphalt.  The  connections 
and  fitting  of  soil,  waste,  and  leader  pipes  are  in 
accordance  with  the  "  Durham  System  of  House 
Drainage,"  with  screw  joints  packed  with  red  lead 
and  giving  perfectly  smooth  inside  passage  at  all 
joints.  Vent  pipes  have  ordinary  steamfitter's  joints. 
All  fittings  are  extra  heavy,  of  uniform  thickness,  and 
those  of  vent  pipes  are  galvanized.  All  connections 
with  lead  pipes  are  made  by  means  of  soldering 
nipples  and  all  connections  with  iron  pipes  are  screw 
joints  packed  with  red  lead. 

Horizontal  lines  of  pipes  are  provided  with  hand- 
hole  openings  and  brass  scre>v  caps  located  not  more 
than  20  feet  apart.  All  iron  pipes  of  the  water  ser- 
vice are  of  best  quality  heavy  wrought-iron  tubing, 
galvanized,  with  extra-heavy  galvanized-iron  fittings 
and  screw  joints  packed  with  red  lead  supported  on 
galvanized-iron  hangers  and  holdfasts.  Lead  waste 
and  soil  pipe  where  used  for  short  connections  is  of 
the  following  weights:  i;^-inch  pipe,  3^  pounds  per 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


173 


running  root;  2  pipe.  f°ur  pounds  per  running 

foot;  3-inch  pipe,  six  pounds  per  running  foot.  Lead 
water-service  pipes  are  of  the  following  weights: 
j^-inch  pipe,  three  pounds  per  running  foot;  fjj-inch 
pipe,  2j^  pounds  per  running  foot;  3^-inch  pipe,  4^ 
pounds  per  running  foot.  Other  sizes  are  extra-heavy 
drawn,  of  uniform  thickness  "AAA."  All  are  put 
up  with  hard  metal  tacks  and  screws,  not  over  30  inches 
apart.  All  lead  pipe  in  contact  with  concrete  or 
deafening  is  painted  two  coats  of  metallic  paint. 
All  brass  supply  pipes  are  tinned.  All  exposed  brass 
pipes  are  polished.  Hot  and  cold  water  pipes  are 
kept  apart  everywhere  that  it  is  possible;  when  they 
cannot  be  separated  isolated  packing  is  used.  Where 
water  pipes  are  exposed  to  frost  they  are  wrapped  in 
boiler  felting  and  the  whole  protected  by  a  galvanized- 
iron  sleeve  pipe  of  proper  size. 

There  are  three  cesspools  under  the  basement  floor, 
one  in  the  boiler-room,  one  in  the  western  storeroom, 
and  one  in  the  eastern  part.  At  various  points  cast- 
iron  catch-basins  are  built  in,  with  perforated  covers, 
set  flush  with  the  graded  floors  as  follows:  One  in 


:HEY 


the  pump-room,  one  in  the  dynamo-room,  two  in  the 
boiler  room,  and  two  in  the  storeroom.  These  catch- 
basins  discharge  through  2-inch  trapped  pipes  into 
the  cesspools.  A  3  inch  pipe  is  run  from  each  of  the 
cesspools  to  the  cesspool  in  the  boiler-room,  connect- 
ing with  the  latter  4  inches  below  its  cover.  Inside 
of  this  cesspool  extending  through  its  wall,  are  two 
pipes  with  screw  caps  and  2-inch  stop  valves,  so  that 
possible  ground- water  pressure  under  the  main  build- 
ing can  be  relieved.  The  boiler-room  cesspool  is  on 
a  lower  level  than  the  others,  and  is  provided  with 
an  automatic  steam  syphon  having  an  auxiliary  water 
connection  so  that  the  house-tank  water  pressure  can 
operate  the  syphon  instead  of  steam,  if  necessary. 

The  general  features  and  arrangment  of  the  main 
pipe  lines  and  operation  of  the  water-pressure  system 
were  developed  by  the  architect,  and  a  conventional 
diagram  of  it  was  made  and  attached  to  the  contract 
specifications.  The  principal  points  of  it  were  carried 
out  in  construction,  subject  of  course  to  modifications 
of  convenient  position  and  relative  location  of  pumps, 
tanks,  etc.,  which  will  be  shown  in  detail  in  the 


I/ 

.pe,—^  Roo:$      e 

»    ............  >   7  '    ' 


<:^-.. Basement  Toilet 

"  "'   i  T"'  "1 

J  f. 

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i  fpnn 


PLUMBING   IN   THE    PRESBYTERIAN   BUILDING,    NEW   YORK   CITY 


174 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


following  part.  The  specification  diagram,  Fig.  i, 
needs  no  additional  explanation  and  forms  a  desirable 
supplement  to  the  written  specifications,  from  which 
some  of  the  data  of  this  article  have  been  prepared. 

FART  II. — ENUMERATION  AND  DESCRIPTION  OF  FIXTURES, 
LOCAL  VENT  SYSTEM,  DRAWINGS  AND  DESCRIPTION 
OF  STORAGE  TANKS  AND  CONNECTIONS,  AND  OF 
PUMPS,  DISTRIBUTION  DRUM.  HOT-WATER  BOILER, 
SUCTION  TANK,  RISER  LINES,  AND  OPERATING  VALVES 
IN  BASEMENT. 

A  LIST  of  the  principal  fixtures  includes  79  water- 
closets,  24  urinals,  seven  earthenware  hopper  slop- 
sinks,  five  cast-iron  slopsinks,  one  cast-iron  sink  in 
engineer's  basement  toilet-room,  and  three  cast-iron 
drip  sinks,  etc.  in  the  basement.  There  are  291 
washbasins,  mostly  single,  12^x15  inches,  and  one 
porcelain-lined  roll-rim  bathtub,  besides  two  school 
sinks  temporarily  connected  up  in  the  basement  for 
use  as  workmen's  water-closets.  One  end  of  the 
elevator  shaft  is  partitioned  off  to  make  a  separate 
main  vertical  flue  through  which  the  pump  and  tank 
risers  and  other  stacks  of  pipes  are  run,  and  into 
which  foul-air  flues  for  the  ventilation  of  toilet-rooms 
are  connected  on  different  floors.  In  this  ventilation 
shaft  a  special  galvanized-iron  flue  is  run  and  pro- 
vided with  branches  extending  to  within  2  feet  of 
the  different  water-closets  and  urinals,  from  each  of 
which  a  local  vent  pipe  3  inches  or  2  inches  respec- 
tively is  taken  to  the  flue  branch.  The  top  of  the 
main  flue  opens  freely  in  an  iron  exhaust  chamber 
on  top  of  the  roof,  where  an  electrically  driven  s-foot 
Blackman  fan  exhausts  the  air  from  both  the  toilet- 
rooms  and  their  fixtures. 

Figure  2  shows  the  location  of  basement  pumps, 
tank,  hot  and  cold  water  drums,  and  the  arrange- 
ment of  distribution  lines  and  position  of  the  valves 


by  which  they  can  be  completely   controlled  from 
this  one  point  near  the  engineer's  headquarters. 

Separate  metered  supplies  are  taken  from  the  two 
adjacent  street  mains  and  discharged  through  four 
i^-inch  ball  cocks  into  a  i.ooo-gallon  open  iron 
suction  tank,  from  which  the  two  i^xy'xio"  Deane 
house  pumps  are  supplied.  The  pumps  deliver 
through  a  4-inch  pipe  D  to  the  roof  tanks,  and  also 
through  two  3-inch  fire  lines  E  E  that  have  valve 
and  hose  couplings  on  every  floor.  A  third  similar 
fire  line  is  branched  overhead  from  pipe  D,  but  is  not 
here  shown.  Pipe  D  has  a  check  valve,  opening  up 
to  prevent  the  escape  of  water  from  the  tanks.  The 
supply  and  pressure  from  the  tanks  is  brought 
through  a  4  inch  pipe  F  to  the  distribution  drum  G, 
8x2  feet,  that  has  dished  heads,  is  tested  to  200 
pounds  hydraulic  pressure,  and  is  hung  from  the 
floor  beams  above  by  iron  suspension  straps.  This 
drum  has  two  8-inch  handholes,  and  distributes  the 
house  supply  of  cold  water  through  121  !^-inch  risers 
H,  etc.,  which  are  controlled  by  the  angle  valves  I  I, 
etc.,  and  may  be  separately  emptied  through  the 
drip  pipes  and  waste  valves  just  above.  A  2-inch 
pipe  K  from  the  bottom  of  the  drum  supplies  the  hot- 
water  boiler  J,  whose  contents  are  heated  by  two 
interior  3-inch  brass  coils,  each  30  feet  long,  and  con- 
nected to  the  live  and  exhaust  steam  mains.  This 
boiler  delivers  hot  water  under  tank  pressure  to  the 
different  groups,  of  fixtures  through  the  three  2-inch 
lines  L  L  L  that  vent  above  the  roof  tanks,  and  are 
connected  above  their  highest  fixtures  with  2^-inch 
return-circulation  pipes  M  M  M,  that  are  branched 
into  the  2-inch  emptying  pipe  N,  between  its  valve 
and  the  boiler.  These  pipes  are  commanded  by 
valves  O,  and  each  one  can  be  separately  and  in- 
dependently emptied  by  closing  its  valve  O  and 
opening  its  valve  P. 


t  Hater  Sups/y  Pipes  L 

r  Return  C/rcuhtion  Pipes  M 


|   City  Supply  rmrnZ* 

•hole  t 
WOT  HlfTfft BOILER  J. 

SUCTION  TMHi 


eamSupply  Pipe  V 
'Hydraulic  Pressure  from  Roof  Tenh 
"Automatic  Regulating  Valve 
Jacketted 


PUMP 
PLUMBING  IN  THE  PRESBYTERIAN  BUILDING,   NEW   YORK   CITY. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


175 


Each  of  the  three  systems,  hot  water,  cold  water, 
and  tank  delivery,  has  a  blow-off  above  the  roof 
tank.  The  pipe  Q  that  supplies  the  first  floor  and 
basement  fixtures  with  cold  water  is  connected  as 
shown  with  the  mains  from  each  of  the  two  streets 
and  by  a  valve  not  shown  with  tank-pressure  system, 
which  is  usually  cut  off,  but  maybe  used  if  necessary. 
All  hot  water,  to  basement  fixtures  inclusive,  is  sup- 
plied under  tank  pressure. 

Each  of  the  duplicate  Deane  steam  pumps  receives 
steam  through  pipe  V  and  valve  U,  which  is  usually 
open,  and  admits  it  to  a  valve  T  which  is  operated 
by  a  piston  attached  to  its  stem  and  continued  in 
hydraulic  cylinder  S.  This  cylinder  is  connected 
with  the  roof  tanks  by  a  small  pressure  pipe  R  so 
.arranged  that  when  the  water  in  the  tank  is  more 
4han  6  inches  below  the  overflow  it  opens  valve  T, 


upper  edge  inside,  and  two  sets  of  nine  i-inch  hori- 
zontal tie-rods  hooked  to  inside  lugs  riveted  to  the 
side  plates.  The  tanks  measure  io'xi2'x6'  high  and 
have  a  capacity  of  5,000  gallons  below  the  overflow 
line.  The  tanks  are  supported  on  lo-inch  rolled- 
steel  I  beams  that  distribute  its  weight  upon  the  col- 
umns of  the  building  and  are  placed  in  a  ^-inch  iron 
safe  pan  3  inches  deep  and  I2'8"x29'2",  projecting  16 
inches  beyond  the  sides  of  the  tanks  and  drained  by 
two  3-inch  safe  waste  pipes. 

The  connections  of  the  pipes  are  clearly  indicated 
in  the  illustration.  All  pipes  have  flange  joints  to 
tanks.  The  main  tanks  T  T  are  filled  through  sepa- 
rate valves  from  4-inch  pump  riser  D,  that  is  carried 
along  the  ridge  of  the  roof  about  8  feet  above  their 
tops  and  has  a  vent  and  air  valve  at  its  highest 
point.  They  are  connected  at  the  bottom  by  an 


Roof  Line 


.  F-  House Supply  SafeHtostef,       NVj 

C-Check  WM  fire  Line  E 

P-  P- Emptying  Pipes  to  Roof 


~  Equa/izing  Pipe  B 


t  ENG".tiBiNG  aecoRC 


PLUMBING  IN  THE  PRESBYTERIAN  BUILDING,   NEW  YORK  CITY. 


admits  steam  to  the  pumps  and  starts  them;  when  the 
water  rises  in  the  tank  to  i  inch  below  the  overflow 
line  the  valve  automatically  closes  and  stops  the 
pumps,  the  practical  result  being  that  the  pump 
usually  works  very  slowly  most  of  the  time,  the 
valve  T  being  only  a  little  open.  Of  course  valve  T 
can  be  fixed  open  and  the  pumps  operated  by  hand 
by  valve  U.  Another  pressure  pipe  and  dial  in  the 
engine-room,  not  here  shown,  indicates  constantly 
the  height  of  water  in  the  tank  by  a  spring  gauge 
with  its  index  arranged  to  show  feet  instead  of 
pounds. 

Figure  3  shows  the  arrangement  of  storage  tank 
T  T  in  the  roof  house.  Each  tank  is  made  of  i^-inch 
steel  plates,  with  3x4  inch  vertical  T-bar  stiffeners  4 
feet  apart  inside,  a  4x3  inch  flange  angle  around  the 


equalizing  pipe  B,  with  valves  to  cut  off  either  tank 
if  requisite  for  cleaning,  painting,  alterations,  repairs, 
etc.,  and  from  this  pipe  the  4-inch  house-supply  pipe 
F  and  three  3-inch  fire  lines  E  E  E  (see  also  Fig.  2) 
are  branched,  the  latter  with  check  valves  to  prevent 
fire-pump  pressure  from  entering  the  tanks.  All  the 
lines  are  separately  valved,  though  the  valves  are 
normally  kept  open  and  a  small  vent  pipe  suffices  to 
promote  the  ready  emptying  of  all  of  them.  The 
arrangement  of  pump  governor  pressure  gauge,  over- 
flow and  emptying  pipes  is  clearly  shown,  and  a 
frame  A  made  of  2-inch  riveted  angles  rests  upon  the 
top  of  one  tank  and  supports  a  500  gallon  tank  J  that 
is  elevated  to  give  sufficient  head  for  the  supply  to 
janitor's  apartments  on  the  same  floor  as  the  main 
tanks  T  T. 


PLUMBING  IN  AMUSEMENT  HALLS  AND  PUBLIC  BUILDINGS. 


PLUMBING  IN  THE    MADISON    SQUARE 
GARDEN,  NEW  YORK. 

(PUBLISHED  IN  i8gi.) 

THE  water  supply  ot  the  Madison  Square  Garden  is 
divided  into  two  separate  systems.  The  one  for  the 
auditorium  building  receives  water  through  the  2^. 
inch  pump  pipe  A,  Fig.  i.  which  delivers  to  the  fire 
tank  S  The  latter  is  supported  above  the  roof  by 
the  6-incb  iron  beams  R  R  R,  etc.,  which  are  carried 
by  the  wal.  W  and  plate-girder  T. 

Figure  2  is  an  elevation  at  Z  Z.  Fig.  i.  Water 
enters  freely  from  the  pump  pipe  without  any  ball 
valve,  and  overflows  through  the  3-inch  stand-pipe  B 
to  the  house  tank  Q,  Fig.  3,  which  is  below  it  and 
conveniently  placed  some  distance  away  on  the  upper 
gallery  floor.  When  this  tank  is  full  the  pipe  is 
closed  by  ball  cock  F,  and  the  water,  rising  in  tank 
S,  rings  an  electric  alarm  X,  which  is  in  tank  S,  not 
shown  here.  This  arrangement  insures  the  constant 
maintenance  of  the  upper  tank  S,  full  of  water  for  fire 
purposes,  as  required  by  law. 

The  height  of  the  water  in  house  tank  Q  is  always 
indicated  in  the  pump-room  by  a  gauge  operated  by 
the  heavy  float  G.  The  latter  is  a  copper  vessel  filled 
nearly  to  submersion  with  sand,  and  then  tightly 
sealed.  The  fire  tank  S  must  always  be  full. 


The  overflow  is  through  4-inch  pipe  H  to  an  adja- 
cent slopstnic. 

I  is  the  2-inch  house  supply  pipe;  J  is  a  ^-inch 
branch  to  an  upper  washbasin,  and  also  serves  as  a 
vent  pipe  to  facilitate  the  emptying  of  I  when  its 
valve  K  is  closed,  and  the  stop  cock  L  is  opened;  M 
is  a  lead-lined  safe. 

Figure  4  is  a  diagram  of  the  system  of  sprinklers 
placed  in  the  roof  over  the  stage  of  the  amphitheater 
for  protection,  while  in  use  as  a  theater.  C  is  the  4- 
inch  pipe  from  the  fire  tank  S,  Fig.  2.  It  is  run  hori- 
zontally for  some  distance,  just  under  the  ceiling  of 
the  upper  gallery,  and  then  descends  by  the  2;^-inch 
riser  O  to  the  cellar,  where  it  is  connected  with  the 
fire  line  A,  Fig.  5.  P  is  a  check  valve,  opening  with 
a  current  towards  O;  Q  is  a  main  supplying  the 
sprinkler  branches  R  R  R,  etc.  Different  sections  of 
both  Q  and  R  R,  etc.  vary  in  size  to  correspond  with 
the  number  of  sprinklers  supplied  from  given  po.nts. 
All  these  pipes  are  suspended  directly  from  the  roof 
trusses. 

The  sprinkler  heads  were  supplied  by  John  Sim- 
mons, New  York,  for  this  job.  They  were  placed 
about  10  feet  apart,  as  indicated  by  the  black  circles 
in  Fig.  4,  and  are  nominally  closed,  but  will  auto- 
matically open  whenever  the  temperature  in  any  part 
of  the  auditorium  exceeds  160  degrees.  They  are 


cs^^^^^^^^^^ 

let          W  y 


PLUMI1ING   IN    THE    MADISON    SQUARE    GARDEN,    NEW    YORK    CITY 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


377 


intended  to  be  operated  by  the  high  pressure  main- 
tained by  the  pumps  throughout  riser  O  and  the  rest 
of  the  fire  line.  This  pressure  closes  check  valve  P, 
and  prevents  waste  through  tank  S.  Should  this 
pump  pressure  fail,  valve  P  will  open  and  supply  the 
contents  of  tank  S  to  the  sprinklers  or  to  any  hose 
cock  on  the  fire  line. 

Figure  8  is  a  general  view,  and  Fig.  9  is  a  section 
of  the  automatic  sprinkler  head,  which  is  screwed  on 
to  the  pressure  mains  R  R.  etc.,  Fig.  4.  Figures 
shows  the  sprinkler  head  closed,  and  Fig.  9  shows 
it  open  and  delivering  a  spray,  as  indicated  by  the 
arrows.  A  is  the  supply  tube  carrying  two  slide 
rods  F  F,  on  which  the  perforated  valve  cap  C  moves 
vertically.  Rods  F  F  carry  the  head  L,  which  has 
the  adjustable  yokes  M  M,  to  which  are  pivoted  the 
catches  N  N. 

The  stem  J  of  cap  C  moves  freely  through  head  L, 
and  is  held  up  by  a  weak  spring  K.  Ordinarily  cap 
C  is  raised  to  embrace  collar  P  and  make  a  press- 


ure contact  between  ground  edge  B  and  copper 
gasket  D  resting  on  the  rubber  cushion  E,  which 
closes  the  tube  A. 

Cap  C  is  maintained  in  position  by  the  catches  N  N, 
which  secure  the  lower  end  of  its  spindle  J,  and  are 
bound  together  by  the  fusible  sleeve  O,  as  in  Fig.  8 
Tightness  of  the  joint  at  B  is  obtained  by  screwing 
up  yoke  M.  If  now  the  temperature  be  raised  to  160 
degrees  the  seams  of  sleeve  O  will  be  fused,  and  it 
will  separate  into  two  parts  and  release  catches  N  N, 
as  shown  in  Fig.  9. 

The  pressure  of  water  in  A  against  cushion  E  will 
then  overcome  the  weak  spring  K,  and  forcing  down 
cap  C  and  spindle  J,  open  the  valve  and  admit  water 
into  chamber  H.  From  this  it  will  escape  through 
the  perforations  I  I,  etc. 

•  The  house  pump  and  the  steam  boiler  pump  and 
elevator  pumps  are  all  interchangeably  connected,  so 
as  to  be  able  to  command  a  4-inch  fire  main  A,  Figs. 
5  and  6,  which  is  carried  completely  around  the 


MADISON  SQUARE  GARDEN 


PLUMBING   IN   THE   MADISON    SQUARE   GARDEN,    NEW   YORK   CITY. 


178 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


amphitheater  on  its  outside  foundation  walls,  and  is 
constantly  commanded  by  the  special  fire  pumps  at 
Z.  This  pipe  has  several  3-inch  risers  C  C,  etc.,  each 
of  which  has  a  3-inch  hose  cock  D  in  a  corridor  of 
every  floor. 

The  fire  system  commands  the  entire  building,  and 
serves  the  concert  hall,  restaurant,  theater  and 
tower,  as  well  as  the  amphitheater. 

There  are  also,  on  opposite  sides  of  the  building, 
two  4-inch  hose  cocks  E,  each  supplied  with  hose 
enough  to  meet  that  from  the  other.  Just  beyond 
the  cocks  E  E  are  gate  valves  F  to  shut  the  water  off 
from  the  rest  of  the  system  if  a  fire  occurs  between 
that  point  and  the  pumps. 


The  main  A  is  made  without  elbows,  the  lengths 
being  very  smoothly  bent  on  the  ground  by  hand  to 
a  radius  of  about  3  feet  to  fit  the  offsets  in  the  wall, 
and  so  as  to  present  a  very  regular  and  mechanical 
appearance.  Different  kinds  of  hangers,  G,  H,  I, 
and  J,  are  used  to  support  the  pipe  according  to  cir- 
cumstances, and  are  placed  at  intervals  of  not  more 
than  10  fett.  All  of  them,  except  J,  are  drilled  and 
leaded  into  the  masonry. 

Figure  7  is  a  diagram  plan  showing  the  drainage 
system  of  the  amphitheater  and  the  horse  stalls  be- 
neath it.  The  reference  letters  designate:  C,  cast- 
iron  drain  pipe;  D,  horse  drinking-trough;  F,  drain 
from  center  stalls;  G,  gutter  around  the  stalls;  L, 
rainwater  leader;  S,  soil  pipe;  T,  main  trap;  M, 
branch  to  street  sewer. 

The  gutter  G  is  simply  an  asphalt-lined  trough, 
covered  with  iron  gratings,  and  connects  through 
half-S  traps  with  the  drain  pipe.  Each  trap  is  ac- 
cessible through  a  handhole,  and  every  bend  of  these, 
and  all  other  drain  and  soil  pipes  in  the  building,  are 
commanded  by  cleaning  caps.  As  is  shown  by  the 
current  arrows  of  Fig.  7,  almost  all  parts  of  the 
main  drain  pipes  are  flushed  by  the  leaders  L  L.  etc. 
whenever  it  rains,  and  by  the  waste  from  the  horse 
troughs. 

As  the  horse  stalls  and  basements  are  unoccupied 
during  intervals  of  several  months  each  year,  the 
gutter  branch  traps  would  lose  their  seals,  and  each 
one  would  have  to  be  guarded  by  a  gate  valve  if  the 
stable  drain  pipes  received  also  the  discharge  from 
the  soil  and  waste  pipes  in  the  rest  of  the  building. 
If  this  large  number  of  valves  had  been  provided, 


employees  would  probably  neglect  to  close  some  or 
all  of  them  when  the  stables  were  empty.  It  was 
therefore  proposed  to  make  the  stable  drainage  and 
the  general  soil  and  waste  systems  entirely  separate, 
the  former  having  main  traps  T  T,  etc.,  and  the 
latter  main  traps  T'  T',  etc.,  connecting  them  with 
the  branches  M  M,  etc.  to  the  street  sewers.  This 
plan  was  adopted  by  the  contractors  in  consultation 
with  John  C.  Collins,  Chief  Inspector  of  Plumbing 
for  the  New  York  Health  Department,  and  the  rain- 
water leader  and  stable-drainage  system  is,  as  above 
described,  entirely  independent  of  the  plumbing  and 
drainage  elsewhere  throughou  the  house.  All  the 
soil  and  ventilation  pipes  were  subjected  to  a  water- 
pressure  test. 

The  work  was  executed  by  Byrne  &  Tucker,  of 
New  York,  who  also  fitted  up  the  toilet-rooms  and 
all  other  plumbing  in  the  building,  which,  although 
similar  to  corresponding  work  done  elsewhere  by  the 
same  firm,  does  not  present  unusual  features  for 
special  description  here. 


PLUMBING  IN  THE  UNION  DEPOT  AT  ST. 
LOUIS. 

(PUBLISHED  IN  1805.) 

THE  mechanical  and  sanitary  equipment  of  the 
large  new  Union  passenger  station  used  by  the 
numerous  railways  having  their  termini  in  St. 
Louis,  Mo.,  has  been  designed  to  be  of  correspond- 
ing beauty  and  excellence  with  the  elaborate  pro- 
vision for  the  accommodation  of  passenger  move- 
ment and  the  rich  decorations  of  all  public  rooms  in 
the  new  station,  and  is  complete  and  conformable  to 
modern  advanced  practice.  Theodore  C.  Link  was 
the  architect  and  Herbert  P.  Taussig  Chief  Engineer 
of  the  depot.  Adams  &  Chandler  were  general  con- 
tractors and  the  Abel  &  Gerhard  Plumbing  Company 
contractors  for  the  plumbing,  some  details  of  which 
are  illustrated  herewith  from  sketches  made  by  a 
member  of  our  staff. 

The  main  building  is  four  stories  in  height,  the 
lower  or  basement  floor  and  the  first  floor  being  de- 
voted to  ticket  and  waiting  rooms,  emigrant  rooms, 
restaurant,  etc.  The  second  and  third  stories  contain 
the  galleries  of  the  main  hall,  and  in  the  east  and 
west  wings  over  100  offices  for  railroad  and  other  pur- 
poses. The  mail  and  express,  baggage,  and  other 
departments  are  in  adjacent  separate  buildings  with 
individual  plumbing  equipments.  In  the  depot  itself 
the  plumbing  fixtures  are  designed  and  arranged  for 
the  greatest  convenience  and  comfort  of  travelers  and 
employees,  and  have  been  generously  allotted,  mak- 
ing some  provisions  not  ordinarily  found  in  similar 
installations.  For  example,  in  the  special  travelers' 
bathrooms,  baths  can  be  quickly  furnished  toymen  or 
women  between  arrival  and  departure  of  terminal 
trains.  The  refrigerating  system  comprehends 
cooling  all  the  drinking-water  at  one  place  without 
contact  with  the  ice,  and  piping  it  thence  through 
insulated  pipes  to  the  various  drinking-fountains, 
some  of  which  are  elaborately  decorated. 

The  plumbing  substantially  consists  of  the  drain- 
age and  trap  vent  system,  the  cold-water  supply, 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


179 


FlG.7     -SECTION  AJX-X. 
TRAIH  HOUSE 

mi  mi  mi  mi  mi.  mi  mi  nil  mi  mi  mi  mi  mi  mi  mi 


PLUMBING   IN  THE   ST.    LOUIS   UNION   DEPOT. 


160 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD 


PLUMBING  IN   THE   ST     LOUIS   UNION   DEPOT. 


toilet-rooms  for  male  and  female  emigrants  and  for 
first-class  passengers,  barber  shop,  washbowls,  men's 
and  women's  bathrooms,  hot  and  cold  water  and 
cooking  apparatus  in  the  restaurant,  dining-room, 
and  kitchen,  employees'  toilet-rooms,  private  and 
public  water-closets,  washbowls  in  the  offices  on  the 
second  and  third  floors,  public  toilet- rooms  in  the 
upper  stories,  a  system  of  drinking-water  fountains, 
fire -protection  lines,  and  a  hot- water  heating  appar- 
atus for  baths  and  the  barber  shop. 

Figures  1,2,  and  3  are  diagrams  of  the  different 
floor  plans  showing  the  location  of  fixtures.  The 
second  floor  is  arranged  like  the  third. 

Figure  4  shows  the  arrangement  of  bracket  wash- 
stands,  one  of  which  is  provided  on  each  chair  in  the 
barber  shop. 

Figure  5  shows  the  center  washbowl  in  the  barber 
shop. 

Figure  6  is  a  cross- section  through  two  of  the 
water-closets  in  the  first-floor  toilet-room,  showing 
that  passageway  between  the  stalls  behind  them  in 
which  the  pipe  lines  are  both  concealed  and  access- 
ible. Figure  7  is  an  elevation  at  X  X,  Fig.  6. 

Figure  8  shows  the  connections  of  the  sx4-foot 
Western  filter  through  which  all  the  drinking-water 
is  passed. 

Figure  g  shows  the  Seaman's  automatic  water 
heater  by  which  a  gas  flame  is  made  to  raise  to  a  uni- 
form fixed  temperature  the  water  in  the  tank  for  the 
barber  shop  and  the  bathrooms.  The  device  is  ar- 
ranged to  cut  off  the  heat  when  the  temperature  of 
the  water  rises  too  high. 


architectural  treatment  is  prominent  among  the 
sightly  edifices  of  that  neighborhood.  It  was  erected 
by  Mr.  William  K.  Vanderbilt,  and  is  maintained  as 
a  kind  of  club-house  wherein  employees  of  the  rail- 
ways having  their  terminus  at  the  Grand  Central 
Station  may  pass  their  leisure  time.  It  is  admin- 
istered with  a  view  to  the  healthful  recreation  and 
mental  and  moral  improvement  of  those  making  use 
of  its  facilities,  and  contains  beside  parlor  and  gen- 
eral meeting-rooms,  offices,  club  and  committee 
rooms,  a  library,  a  gymnasium,  baths,  bowling  alleys, 
etc. 


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PLUMBING    IN    THE    RAILROAD    MEN'S 
READING-ROOM,  NEW  YORK. 

(PUBLISHED  IN  1805.) 

THE  Railroad  Men's  Reading-room  is  a  handsome 
four-story  structure  about  80  feet  square  on  the 
ground,  located  on  Madison  Avenue,  New  York  City, 
near  the  Grand  Central  Station,  and  by  reason  of  its 


The  plumbing  embraces  a  main  lavatory  and 
toilet-room  in  the  basement,  bathrooms  with  tubs, 
shower  and  plunge  baths  and  sinks,  slopsinks.  wash- 
trays,  water-closets,  urinals,  and  washbowls  as  re- 
quired for  convenience  upon  the  upper  floors.  The 
soil  and  vent  pipes  are  provided  with  cleanouts  on 
dead  ends  and  at  principal  angles,  and  are  in  lines 
branched  from  a  6-inch  sewer  pipe  which  extends 
under  the  basement  floor  to  about  the  center  of  the 
building,  and  receives  most  of  the  discharge  from 
rainwater  leaders  and  floor  strainers.  One  group  of 
rainwater  leaders  discharges  into  an  old  outside 
masonry  trapped  cacth-basin,  and  the  discharge  from 
the  plunge  bath  is  received  in  a  catch- basin  whose 
contents  are  pumped  out  into  the  sewer. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


181 


PLUMBING   IN    THE   RAILROAD    MEN'S   READING-ROOM,    NEW    YORK   CITY. 


182 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


183 


Figure  i  is  a  basement  plan  showing  the  arrange- 
ment of  drain  and  trap  vent  pipes  and  the  location  of 
baths,  lavatory,  etc. 

Figure  2  is  a  general  vertical  section  and  elevation 
showing  five  of  the  principal  stacks  of  pipes. 

Figures  3,  4,  5,  6,  7,  and  8  are  cross-sections  show, 
ing  views  of  portions  of  the  lines  and  the  fixtures  at 
right  angles  to  the  plane  of  Fig.  2.  Figure  3  is  of 
line  A  at  the  third  story.  Fig.  4  of  line  B  at  the  second 
and  third  stories,  Fig.  5  of  the  basement  water-closets. 


Figure  6  shows  how  the  vent  and  soil  pipes  of  line 
D  are  run  through  the  second,  third,  and  fourth 
stories  and  are  branched  together  in  the  mansard 
roof  space.  Figure  7  is  a  diagram  of  the  basement 
urinals,  and  Fig.  8  shows  the  bends  necessitated  in 
line  C  to  avoid  obstructing  windows  and  to  go 
through  the  third-story  partition. 

Figure  9  shows  the  oval  table,  with  the  washbowls 
and  handsome  marble  and  plate-glass  mirrors,  in  the 
basement. 


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PLUMBING  IN  THE  RAILROAD  MEN'S  READING-ROOM,   NEW  YORK  CITY. 


PLUMBING   IN  THEATERS. 


PLUMBING  IN  THE   FIFTH  AVENUE  THEA- 
TER. NEW  YORK. 

(PUBLISHED   IN    1892.) 

PART  I. — GENERAL   PLAN,    DIAGRAMS   OK   BASEMENT,   PIPE 
SYSTEMS,  AND   DESCRIPTION   OF   PLUMBING. 

CURRENT  plumbing  practice,  in  its  application  to  a 
modern  metropolitan  theater  building,  may  be  held 
to  be  illustrated  in  the  work  in  the  new  Fifth  Avenue 
Theater,  in  New  York  City.  This  structure  is 
situated  in  West  Twenty-eighth  Street,  near  Broad- 
way, and  replaces  one  burned  a  year  before.  It  was 
built  according  to  the  plans  of  Francis  H.  Kimball, 
architect,  of  New  York,  and  all  the  work  described 
in  this  article  was  designed  or  approved  in  accordance 
with  his  plans  by  William  Paul  Gerhard,  C.  E,,  con- 
sulting engineer  for  sanitary  works,  of  New  York. 
The  contractors  were  John  Tourney  &  Son,  of  New 
York.  The  fire  service  in  this  theater  is  notable  as 
having  been  designed  with  the  intention  of  con- 
forming to  the  latest  revised  requirements  of  the 
New  York  Board  of  Fire  Underwriters  and  of  the 
new  building  law,  and  this  is  said  to  be  the  first 
large  theater  system  installed  since  the  adoption  of 
these  rules.  The  plan  and  general  features  of  the 
plumbing,  gas,  and  fire-service  systems,  are  shown 
in  the  engravings,  the  details  conforming  in  general 
to  the  illustrations  familiar  to  our  readers. 

Figure  i  is  a  diagram  showing  the  pipe  system 
and  general  arrangement  of  the  apparatus  in  the 
cellar.  A  A,  etc.  are  2j^-inch  fire-line  risers.  B  is 
the  gas  distributer.  C  and  C'  are  3-inch  and  i  ^inch- 
risers  of  the  automatic  sprinkler  system  and  are 
supplied  by  the  independent  3-inch  pipe  D,  forming 
the  outside  connection  to  which  the  hose  from  a  fire 
engine  may  be  connected,  and  from  a  downpipe, 
not  here  shown,  from  the  special  elevated  fire  tank. 
E  E,  etc.  are  sinks  to  receive  overflows,  drips  and 
for  other  purposes.  F  is  the  suction  tank.  G  is  the 
Worthington  compound  duplex  house  pump.  H  is  a 
6-inch  meter.  I  is  the  2o"xi:^"xio"  Worthington 
fire  pump.  J  is  the  hot-water  boiler. 

Figure  2  is  a  plan  of  the  gallery  floor  and  indicates 
sufficiently  the  arrangement  of  the  other  floors, 
which  are  similar,  at  least,  as  regards  that  portion  of 
the  building  which  adjoins  the  stage.  The  riser 
pipes  are  indicated  by  the  following  reference  letters: 
H,  hot  water;  D,  cold  water;  S,  soil  pipe;  T,  trap 
vent  pipe;  L  V,  local  vent  pipe;  I,  house-pump 
pressure;  J,  tank  pressure.  F  is  the  regular  set  of 
hot,  cold,  circulation,  soil,  and  vent  pipes. 

The  plumbing  equipment  and  fixtures  comprise: 
On  thereof,  one  6,ooo-gallon  fire  tank,  for  fire  supply 


only;  at  the  top  of  the  stage,  one  house  tank,  on  the 
gallery  floor,  two  water-closets,  three  urinals,  one 
porcelain  washbasin,  one  slopsink,  five  iron  enamled 
washstands;  on  the  second  intermediate  floor  above 
the  balcony,  one  water-closet,  five  iron  enamled 
washstands,  one  painter's  sink;  on  the  balcony  floor, 
four  iron  enamled  washstands;  on  the  first  inter- 
mediate floor  above  orchestra  floor,  one  water-closet, 
four  iron  enameled  washstands;  on  the  orchestra 
floor,  four  water-closets,  three  porcelain  washbasins, 
one  iron  enamled  washstand;  in  the  basement,  two 
water-closets,  four  urinals  for  men's  toilet-room,  two 
urinals  and  one  slopsink,  two  water-closets  under 
Twenty-eighth  Street  sidewalk,  oce  engineer's  sink 
and  connection  for  future  engineer's  closet,  con- 
nections under  stage  for  supernumeraries'  toilet-room 
and  washtrough,  one  water  meter,  one  receiving  or 
suction  tank,  one  fire  pump,  one  house  pump,  one 
hot-water  heater,  one  carpenter's  sink  in  carpenter 
shop. 

The  i.soo-gallon  cold-water  house  tank  is  on  top 
of  the  loft  over  the  stage.  It  is  made  of  ^-inch 
boiler-iron,  with  riveted  joints,  has  three  coats  of 
Prince's  metallic  paint  inside  and  out,  has  a  3-inch 
galvanized  wrought-iron  overflow  pipe  to  the  nearest 
roof  gutter,  a  ij^  inch  sediment  valve  and  blow-off 
pipe,  and  is  fitted  with  a  cut-off  connected  with  the 
house  pump  to  automatically  start  the  pump  when 
the  water  in  the  tank  is  drawn  down. 

The  hot-water  heater  J,  Fig.  i,  is  a  2Oo-gallon 
galvanized-iron  closed  tank  containing  a  brass  steam 
coil  to  the  water.  The  tank  is  guaranteed  to  be 
tested  at  300  pounds  hydrostatic  pressure,  and  is 
covered  complete  with  asbestos  and  canvas  covering. 

The  open  receiving  tank  F,  Fig.  i,  is  supplied 
direct  from  the  city  mains  and  serves  as  a  suction 
tank  for  the  pumps.  It  has  a  capacity  of  1,000 
gallons,  is  made  of  ^-inch  boiler-iron,  and  painted 
with  three  coats  of  Prince's  metallic  paint  The 
house  pump  always  draws  from  this  reservoir,  as 
does  the  fire  pump  when  filling  the  fire  tank.  In 
case  of  fire  the  house  pump  will  draw  directly  from 
the  6-inch  main.  The  3-inch  overflow  discharges 
into  a  sink,  the  waste  from  which  is  trapped  and 
connected  with  the  sewer.  The  weight  of  all  cast- 
iron  pipes  was  specified  to  be  as  follows:  Six-inch 
pipes  to  weigh  20  pounds  per  foot;  5-inch  pipes  to 
weigh  17  pounds  per  foot;  4-inch  pipes  to  weigh  13 
pounds  per  foot;  3  inch  pipes  to  weigh  9^  pounds 
per  foot;  2-inch  pipes  to  weigh  51^  pounds  per  foot. 
The  branch  waste  and  vent  pipes  from  fixtures  were 
specified  to  be  drawn  D  lead  pipes  of  the  following 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE, 


183 


weights:  One  and  one-half-inch  pipes,  3^  pounds 
per  foot;  2-inch  pipes,  five  pounds  per  foot;  3-inch 
pipes,  six  pounds  per  foot;  4-inch  pipes,  eight  pounds 
per  foot.  Where  nickel-plated  pipes  are  exposed  at 
fixtures  they  are  drawn  brass  pipe  of  iron  pipe  size. 
All  pipes  were  tested  by  the  usual  water-filling 
method. 

PART    II. — PUMPING     CONNECTIONS,     HOT-WATER      TANK 
AND   GAS   DISTRIBUTER. 

FIGURE  3  is  a  plan  of  the  pump  connections.  The 
reference  letters  indicate  pipes  as  follows:  A  A, 
cold  supply  from  house  tank;  B  B,  supply  mains  to 
fire  tank;  D  D,  etc.,  fire  lines;  H,  C,  and  I  are  re- 
spectively hot,  cold,  and  circulation  pipes  to  the  dif- 
ferent sets  of  fixtures,  etc.,  G  is  the  steam  connection 
to  the  tank  coil,  S  S  are  pump  suctions,  L  is  a  supply 
to  the  receiving  tank,  K  K  are  drip  pipes  for  empty- 
ing rising  lines,  and  M  is  the  main  6-inch  supply  un- 
der city  pressure. 

Figure  4  is  a  view  of  the  fire  pump.  Letters  B,  D, 
M,  and  S  have  the  same  significance  as  in  Fig.  3. 
H  is  the  6-inch  Thomson  meter,  N  is  a  hose  cock,  Q 
is  the  steam  supply,  P  the  exhaust  and  Q  the  auto- 
matic regulator. 

Figure  5  is  a  view  of  the  connection  of  house 
pump  G,  Fig.  i.  City  water  from  pipe  L  is 
ordinarily  delivered  through  two  2  inch  ball  cocks 
to  tank  F,  whence  it  is  delivered  by  the  3-inch 
suction  S  to  the  pump  and  forced  to  the  house 
tank,  about  85  feet  above,  through  the  2 '/4-inch 
pipe  B.  Water  may  however  be  drawn  directly 
from  the  city  mains  by  opening  the  valve  U,  which 
is  usually  closed,  and  by  closing  the  valves  a  b 
and  opening  c  d  it  can  be  pumped  directly  to  the  fire 
lines  and  fire  tank  through  pipe  E.  C  C  C  are  cold- 
water  supplies  to  fixtures  on  the  lower  floor,  and  O 
is  a  i  J^-inch  boiler  feed  pipe.  M  is  a  4-inch  overflow 
and  N  is  a  i^-inch  emptying  pipe  for  the  receiving 
tank.  K  is  an  emptying  pipe  for  the  fire-tank  force 
main.  Steam  is  supplied  to  the  pump  through  pipe  R 
and  is  exhausted  through  T;  a  i-inch  pressure  pipe 
P  connects  with  the  house  tank  and  has  a  ^  inch 
branch  to  the  automatic  governor  D,  which  shuts  off 
steam  when  the  water  in  the  tank  reaches  a  level 
near  its  top,  and  admits  it  and  starts  the  pump  when 
the  level  falls  a  few  inches. 

Figure  6  shows  the  connections  of  the  hot-water 
tank  J,  Fig.  i,  which  is  supplied  from  the  roof  tank 
through  iy2-inch  branch  C  of  pipe  A,  and  delivers 
hot  water  under  tank  pressure  through  the  i^-inch 
pipes  H  and  I,  which  supply  groups  of  fixtures  in  the 
north  and  south  parts  of  the  building  respectively. 
The  return  circulation  is  brought  to  main  F,  and 
enters  the  tank  through  branch  P,  which  also  serves 
to  empty  it  to  the  sewer  through  pipe  Q,  when  valves 
K  K  are  closed  and  valve  G  is  opened.  N  is  a  safety 
valve  and  pipes  B  B,  D  D,  and  E  are  supplies  to  the 
fire  tank  and  fire  lines  from  the  pumps,  as  in  Figs, 
i,  4,  and  5. 

Figure  7  is  an  elevation  and  Fig.  8  is  a  vertu :l 
center  section  of  the  steam-pump  governor  D,  Fig. 
5,  which  controls  the  operation  of  the  house  pump  to 
correspond  with  the  level  of  water  in  the  tank.  In 


186 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


187 


188 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


Fig.  8  the  valve  is  shown  open  so  that  steam  is  ad- 
mitted at  A,  passes  through  seats  C  C  of  the  double 
balanced  valve  D,  and  enters  the  steam  chest  of  the 
pump  through  the  inlet  B.  The  valve  D  is  supported 
by  stem  E,  which  is  connected  to  the  rod  H  by  the 
adjustable  sleeve  yoke  F.  The  rods  E  and  H  work 
through  glands,  and  the  latter  terminates  in  a  piston 
head  I  which  works  in  cylinder  J  under  tank  pressure 
from  pipe  K.  As  soon  as  the  operation  of  the  pump 
has  filled  the  tank  to  a  fixed  level  the  increased  press- 
ure on  piston  I  overcomes  the  resistance  of  spring  G, 
and  depresses  and  closes  valve  D,  thus  stopping  the 
pump.  Drawing  off  a  small  quantity  of  the  water  in 
the  tank  diminishes  the  pressure  in  cylinder  J  so 
that  spring  G  raises  and  opens  valve  D,  and  so  on. 
L  is  a  lock  nut  and  adjustment  for  lengthening  or 
shortening  rod  E  in  sleeve  F,  so  as  to  set  the  spring 
G  at  any  required  tension.  A  similar  governor  (Q, 
Fig.  4)  is  attached  to  the  fire  pump,  so  arranged  as 
to  be  balanced  by  a  constant  pressure  of  100  pounds, 
maintained  in  the  stand-pipes,  and  to  turn  on  steam 
the  moment  that  pressure  falls. 

Figure  9  shows  the  gas  distributer  B,  Fig.  i.  A 
4-inch  gas  supply  P  is  connected  to  a  10  inch  drum 
O,  from  which  the  supplies  B,  C,  D,  E,  F,  and  G  are 
taken  for  different  groups  of  stage  and  auditorium 
lights,  which  can  be  quickly  adjusted  by  the  key 
valves  P  P,  etc.,  which,  however,  cannot  totally  ex- 
tinguish them  even  when  entirely  closed,  because  a 
^-inch  by  pass  pipe  H  is  always  open  and  admits 
enough  gas  to  preserve  the  flame  at  all  times.  These 
by-passes  are  all  supplied  from  branch  Q,  taken  from 
the  pipe  N  to  the  stage  chandelier.  Pipe  A  supplies  the 
orchestra,  gallery,  and  balcony  burners;  pipe  S  is  to 
the  ground  lights  on  each  side  of  the  stage;  pipe  E 
is  to  the  footlights,  F  is  to  border  lights,  and  I,  J,  K, 
L.  and  M  are  for  the  rigging  loft.  The  dressing- 
rooms,  corridors,  foyers,  halls,  toilet-rooms,  entrance, 
and  all  stairways,  etc.  have  a  separate  meter  and 
independent  3-inch  supply.  All  the  piping  was  put 
together  without  the  use  of  red  lead,  and  the  use  of 
gasfitters'  cement  was  absolutely  prohibited.  After 
the  piping  was  completed  it  was  tested  to  success- 
fully maintain  for  one  hour  an  air  pressure  of  15 
inches  of  mercury. 

No  pipe  is  less  than  ^-inch  bore,  and  this  size  is 
used  only  for  one  or  two  bracket  lights.  No  pipe  for 
chandeliers  is  less  than  ^-inch  bore  up  to  four  burn- 
ners,  or  three-fourths  of  an  inch  for  chandeliers  with 
from  four  burners  up  to  15.  Gas  pipes  were  propor- 
tioned according  to  the  following  table  of  sizes,  etc.: 


%-inch  pipe. 

i 


feet. 


100 

150 

2OO 
3OO 
4OO 


3  burners. 
4 


2S 

40 

70 

140 

225 

300 


PART   III.  —  FIRE    SERVICE. 


THE  fire  pump  I,  Fig.  i,  has  a  capacity  of  1,348 
gallons  of  water  per  minute  when  running  at  the 
rate  of  125  feet  per  minute  piston  travel,  and  deliv- 


ers by  separate  horizontal  lines  of  2j^-inch  pipe  to 
five  lines  of  fire  stand-pipes,  each  2  ^  inches  diame- 
ter, of  galvanized  wrought  iron,  screw-jointed,  upon 
which  are  25  2^-inch  fire  valves,  as  follows:  10 
valves  on  the  two  lines  on  each  side  of  the  stage, 
seven  valves  on  line  in  corroder  along  dressing-rooms, 
eight  valves  on  the  two  lines  on  each  side  of  the  audi- 
torium. Just  below  each  fire  valve  the  fire  stand- 
pipe  is  provided  with  a  2^x^-inch  tee,  into  which 
an  extra  strong  steam  metal  detached  lever-handle 
ground-key  bibb  may  be  screwed  to  be  used  for  fill- 
ing the  fire  pails. 

The  fire  valves  are  2%  inches  inside  diameter,  and 
are  finished  and  nickle-plated  in  all  places  except  in 
basement  under  the  stage,  on  the  fly  gallery,  and  in 
the  rigging  loft.  Each  fire  valve  is  fitted  with  50 
feet  of  best  quality  four-ply  rubber-lined  cotton  fire 
hose,  able  to  stand  a  pressure  of  300  pounds  per 
square  inch,  and  the  hose  has  a  ij^-inch  plated  fire 
nozzle.  The  hose  and  nozzle  are  supported  in  im- 
proved hose  racks,  attached  by  pipe  clamps  to  the  fire 
stand-pipes.  The  fire  pump,  its  automatic  attach- 
ment, the  fire  valve,  and  the  fire  hose  were  subjected 
to  tests  directed  by  the  fire  commissioners.  The  fire 
pump  was  operated  under  a  water  pressure  of  120 
pounds  per  square  inch,  which  the  hose  and  fire  noz- 
zles successfully  endured.  Besides  this  stand-pipe 
system  the  Harkness  wet-pipe  system  of  automatic 
sprinklers  was  installed  to  protect  that  portion  of  the 
theater  back  of  the  proscenium  wall  designated  as 
follows:  Under  roof ,  over  stage,  under  gridiron,  fly 
galleries  and  under  the  stage  as  shown  by  the  accom- 
panying plans,  also  the  dressing-rooms,  property- 
room  and  dressing-room  for  "supers"  in  the  base- 
ment. 

The  apparatus  comprises  a  cedar  tank  of  6,000  gal- 
lons capacity,  227  automatic  sprinklers  placed  so  as  to 
meet  the  requirements  of  the  New  York  Board  of  Fire 
Underwriters,  one  2^-inch  and  one  3-inch  riser  and 
all  pipes  and  fittings  necessary  for  the  equipment,  a 
separate  valve  for  each  floor  or  gallery,  a  drip  pipe 
with  suitable  valve  for  each  floor  or  gallery,  a  watch- 
man's automatic  fire  alarm  having  one  8-inch  gong 
placed  inside  and  one  10  inch  located  on  the  outside 
of  the  building,  a  low-water  alarm  having  an  indica- 
tor in  the  engine-room,  a  3-inch  pipe  connected  to  the 
main  pipes  of  the  system  and  carried  down  and 
through  the  walls  of  the  building  to  the  street  and 
provided  with  a  check  valve  and  coupling  and  cap  of 
the  Fire  Department  Standard,  a  2V£-inch  supply 
pipe  connecting  the  water  tank  to  the  fire  pump,  and 
a  2-inch  overflow  pipe  for  the  water  tank.  There 
was  a  steam  connection  made  with  the  roof  tank,  and 
its  riser  was  jacketed  with  felt  to  prevent  the  danger 
of  freezing.  Movable  fire-extinguishing  appliances 
were  also  provided  as  follows:  A  number  of  portable- 
copper  fire  extinguishers,  fire  axes  and  pick  heads, 
sets  of  polished  axe  brackets,  one  fire  hook  6-foot 
pole,  one  fire  hook  io-foot  pole,  one  fire  hook  is-foot 
pole,  one  fire  hook  2o-foot  pole,  and  contracts  were 
made  for  the  systematic  maintenance  of  the  electrical 
works  of  the  equipment  and  for  the  monthly  inspec- 
tions required  by  the  New  York  Board  of  Fire 
Underwriters. 


190 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


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PLUMBING  IN  THE  FIFTH  AVENUE  THEATER,   NEW   YORK  CITY. 


Figure  10  is  a  vertical  section  showing  arrangement 
of  the  main  riser  lines  of  the  sprinkler  system.  B  is 
the  supply  from  the  fire  tank  placed  on  raised  plat- 
form above  highest  roof  over  stage;  J,  K,  and  Q  are 
distributing  risers;  N  and  R  are  the  horizontal  trunk 
mains  supplying  the  roof  gridiron  and  substage  sys- 
tems respectively;  P  P  are  branches  supplying  the 
dressing-room  sprinklers;  S  is  the  outside  Fire  De- 
partment connection  on  Twenty-eighth  Street;  A 
and  G  are  gate  valves,  and  E  is  an  electric  attach- 
ment under  the  roof  near  the  riser,  which  is  con- 
nected to  an  alarm  bell  outside  the  manager's  office 
on  the  stage,  and  one  large  outside  bell  over  the 
stage  entrance.  These  bells  ring  automatically 
when  water  moves  in  the  sprinkler  system.  The  fire 
pump  is  not  connected  automatically  with  the  sprink- 
lers, but  with  the  tank  only,  as  required  by  the  laws 
of  the  Building  and  Fire  Departments. 

Figures  n,  12,  13,  and  14  are  diagrams  showing 
the  arrangement  of  sprinkler  heads  L  L,  etc.  on 
branches  H  H,  etc.  of  main  pipes  T  T,  etc.  in  differ- 
ent horizontal  planes.  G  G,  etc.,  are  gate  valves.  D 
D,  etc.  are  drip  cocks.  F  F,  etc.  and  A  are  risers, 
B,  Fig.  14,  is  a  check  valve,  and  C  is  a  2-inch  riser. 

Figure  u  is  the  roof  plan  at  N,  Fig.  10;  Fig.  12  is 
the  gridiron  plan  at  M,  Fig.  10;  Fig.  13  is  a  plan  of 
the  second  gallery  at  T  T,  Fig.  10.  The  plan  of  the 
first  gallery  is  similar  to  it,  except  that  branch  L1  is 
omitted.  Figure  14  is  a  plan  of  the  system  for  the 
dressing-rooms  for  "  supers,"  and  for  toilet-rooms  in 
basement.  Figure  1 5  is  a  plan  of  the  system  in  one 
of  the  sets  of  dressing  rooms  (see  Fig.  10),  to  which 
the  others  are  similar. 


A  THEATER  FIRE-PRESSURE  SYSTEM. 

(PUBLISHED  IN    1890.) 

THE  automatic  steam  and  tank  pressure  arrange- 
ment for  general  and  fire  purposes  in  the  Broadway 
Theater,  New  York  City,  is  shown  in  the  accompany- 
ing diagram,  where  T  is  a  6,ooo-gallon  iron  roof  tank 
filled  through  a  pump  pipe  A.  B  is  an  overflow.  C 
is  an  emptying  pipe.  The  general  house  supply  is 
through  a  pipe  D,  which  pierces  the  tank  at  E  half- 
way up,  so  that  it  can  draw  off  the  water  in  the  up- 
per half  of  the  tank  only,  always  leaving  below  the 


level  E  3,000  gallons  of  water  that  can  be  drawn  only 
through  the  fire  line  F,  which  has  branches  to  four 
other  lines  G  G,  etc.  H  is  a  check  valve,  closing  by 
an  upward  pressure.  I  I,  etc.  are  hose  cocks.  J  is  a 
Worthington  pump  with  a  patent  automatic  pressure 
regulator  connected  by  a  pipe  K  to  the  pump  pipe  F. 
Steam  at  a  pressure  of  about  60  pounds  is  always 
kept  up,  received  through  the  pipe  L.  A  spring  at 
N  is  regulated  so  that  a  pressure  of  aboout  70  pounds 
in  the  pipe  will  balance  the  steam  pressure  in  the 
pipe  L,  and  close  a  valve  at  M.  If  now  water  be 
drawn  from  any  hose  cock  I,  the  pressure  is  dimin- 
ished, the  steatri  opens  the  valve  M  and  starts  the 
pump,  whose  pressure  closes  the  check  valve  H  and 
allows  the  pump  to  work  at  any  pressure  on  the  fire 
stream  until  the  hose  cocks  are  closed  and  the  press- 
ure in  the  pipe  F  becomes  great  enough  to  close  the 


A  THEATER   FIRE-PRESSURE  SYSTEM. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


valve  M.  The  tank  water  is  thus  shut  off  while  the 
pump  is  working  and  so  is  preserved  for  use  while 
the  pump  is  starting  if  the  street  supply  should  fail. 

This  arrangement  is  illustrated  from  a  description 
by  W.  R.  Bracken,  of  the  firm  of  Moody  &  Bracken, 
of  New  York  City,  who  did  this  work,  with  the  other 
plumbing  in  the  building. 


PLUMBING  DETAILS  IN  ABBEY'S  THEATER, 
NEW  YORK  CITY. 

(PUBLISHED  IN  1893.) 

THE  plumbing  in  the  new  Abbey  Theater,  Broad- 
way and  Thirty-eighth  Street,  New  York  City,  was 
executed  by  Messrs.  Rossman  &  Bracken,  in  con- 
formity to  the  requirements  of  J.  B.  McElfatrick  & 
Son,  architects,  and  does  not  differ  essentially  from 
standard  metropolitan  work,  except  in  some  practical 
details  of  connections  which  have  been  sketched  to 
illustrate  the  convenient  and  advantageous  methods 
used.  The  system  consists  substantially  of  a  pump 
plant,  tank  and  street  supply,  hose  connections,  hot- 


water  supply,  toilet-rooms  for  the  theater,  public, 
office  and  private  use,  and  washbasins.  The  auto- 
matic fire  extinguishers  are  a  separate  installation. 

A  4-inch  street  connection  directly  supplies  the 
suction  pipes  of  a  2o"xio"xio"  fire  pump  anda6"x4"x6* 
house  pump,  both  of  Worthington  make.  The  fire 
pump  is  commanded  by  an  automatic  governor  placed 
on  the  steam  pipe  between  the  throttle  valve  and  the 
cylinder,  so  that,  the  throttle  being  open  and  steam 
continually  on,  the  governor  will  exclude  it  when 
pressure  in  the  discharge  pipe  is  100  pounds,  and  ad- 
mit it  and  start  the  pump  the  moment  the  pressure 
falls  in  the  discharge  pipe.  The  fire  riser  has  three 
hose  cocks  and  reels  with  100  feet  of  hose  in  each 
corridor  (12  in  all).  Great  care  has  been  taken  to 
assure  the  reliability  of  the  fire  apparatus  in  case  of 
an  emergency,  and  its  magnitude  is  indicated  by  the 
statement  that  the  fire  pump  has  a  capacity  of  750 
gallons  per  minute,  or  more  than  1,000,000  gallons  in 
24  hours,  enough  to  supply  50  gallons  per  capita  per 
day  to  a  city  of  20,000  inhabitants.  The  automatic 
apparatus  is  so  arranged  that  in  case  of  fire  anyone 


Iron  back  air  pipe 
F. 


PLUMBING  DETAILS  IN   ABBEY  S  THEATER,   NEW  YORK   CITY. 


192 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


can  run  out  a  length  of  hose,  open  the  valve,  and  in- 
stantly turn  on  a  fire  stream,  while  the  pump  simulta- 
neously automatically  starts  at  full  speed  without  sig- 
naling the  engineer,  thus  gaining  time  that  may  be  of 
the  utmost  value.  The  house  pump  supplies  the  house 
tank  and  steam  boilers  and  is  controlled  by  hand. 
It  delivers  into  a  s.ooo-gallon  iron  roof  tank,  the  sup- 
ply in  which  is  indicated  by  an  electric  high  and  low 
water  alarm  of  Bracken's  patent.  The  house  supply 
of  cold  water  is  from  a  3-inch  tank  pipe  branched  to 
distribution  pipes  in  every  story  above  the  street 
which  is  supplied  directly  from  the  street  pressure. 
A  separate  i}-2-inch  supply  from  the  tank  connects 
with  the  soo-gallon  hot-water  boiler,  which  is  heated 
by  a  2-inch  brass  live-steam  coil  about  70  feet  long. 
The  water  pipes  are  all  galvanized  iron  except  where 
exposed  in  toilet-rooms  and  at  fixtures,  where  they 
are  nickel-plated  brass.  There  are  in  all  90  wash- 
bowls, 35  water  closets,  26  urinals,  two  bathtubs,  six 
slopsinks,  and  eight  ordinary  sinks,  which  are  in- 
stalled for  the  public  and  private  uses  of  the  theater, 
for  rented  offices,  clubrooms,  and  other  tenants  of  the 
building.  Washbasins  with  marble  slabs  and  hot 
and  cold  water  and  handsome  fixtures  are  a  notice- 
able feature  in  all  of  the  36  dressing  rooms.  When 
the  main  riser  lines  were  run  it  was  impossible  to 
locate  fixtures  with  precision,  but  the  tees,  Y's, 
etc.,  were  set  as  nearly  right  as  possible  and  closed 
with  screw  or  calked  caps,  and  a  water-pressure  test 


was  applied.  Afterwards  everything  but  the  tee  or 
Y  was  built  in  or  plastered  up,  and  when  the 
washbowls  were  set  they  were  connected  up  with 
special  adjustable  pieces  which  allowed  for  a  variation 
in  position  of  several  inches. 

Figure  i  shows  the  connection  of  the  washbowl 
waste  and  overflow  to  the  soil  pipe  S  by  means  of 
two  slip  joints,  the  lower  one  of  which  is  screwed  on 
to  the  projecting  end  of  a  brass  tee  "  Y  "  B,  which  is 
united  by  wiped  joints  to  the  lead  pipe  branches  con- 
necting it  to  the  brass  ferrules  F  F  calked  into  the 
cast-iron  hubs  of  the  main  pipes. 

Figure  2  shows  the  connections  of  the  basin  sup- 
plies, which  are  all  made  with  a  ^x^-inch  angle 
V  and  short  nickel-plated  pipe  P  screwed  on  to  the 
tee  T,  after  the  bowl  is  set.  The  coupling  C  is  con- 
nected to  the  foot  of  the  cock  by  a  ground  joint  N, 
and  the  distance  between  it  and  valve  V  being 
measured,  a  J^-inch  nickel-plated  pipe  A  is  cut  to  fit 
and  connected  up  with  a  packing  nut  D,  thus  making 
an  easy  screwed  job,  claimed  to  be  perfectly  tight 
and  durable  and  to  be  not  much  more  expensive  than 
lead  pipe  and  wiped  joints.  One  man  has  fitted  up 
six  such  bowls  in  a  day. 

Figure  3  shows  the  connection  of  the  two  3 -inch 
Thomson  meters  M  M  to  the  4-inch  supply  S,  thus 
avoiding  the  use  of  a  4-inch  meter  and  providing  a 
by-pass  to  enable  one  meter  to  be  cut  out  for  repairs, 
etc..  without  interrupting  the  supply. 


PLUMBING    OF   SWIMMING   AND   RAIN    BATHS. 


BATHS  OF  THE  NEW  YORK  ATHLETIC 
CLUB. 

(PUBLISHED   IN   1886.) 

THE  accompanying  illustrations  show  the  baths  of 
the  New  York  Athletic  Club.  Figure  i  is  a  ground 
plan  of  the  main  floor  of  the  building,  which  is  de- 
voted to  office  and  bathing  purposes.  The  second 
story  contains  a  cafe,  dining-room,  reading-room, 
parlor,  and  public  and  private  billiard-rooms.  The 
third  floor  has  a  private  dining-room,  1,024  private 
lockers  for  the  members,  a  boxing- room,  fencing- 
room,  douche  and  shower  rooms,  lavatory,  and  water- 
closets  and  urinals.  The  fourth  floor  is  entirely 
occupied  by  a  gymnasium,  the  gallery  of  which  is  a 
running  track  of  21  laps  to  a  mile,  and  the  kitchen  is 
in  the  top  of  the  house.  In  the  basement  are  four 
public  bowling  alleys  and  two  private.  A  repository 
is  also  provided  for  bicycles  or  tricycles,  and  84 


lockers  are  here  provided  for  the  use  of  the  help 
The  building  is  100x75  feet,  the  greatest  length  being 
on  Fifty-fifth  Street,  and  it  is  on  this  front  the  main 
entrance  is.  The  staircase  hall  is  a  square  of  about 
21  feet,  open  to  the  top  of  the  building.  On  the  left 
is  the  office,  and  beyond  it  a  committee-room.  Op- 
posite the  main  entrance  is  the  coat-room,  14x18  feet, 
and  adjacent  to  both  stairways.  The  remainder  of 
the  floor  is  devoted  to  bathing.  There  is  a  large 
swimming  bath,  66  feet  long  by  22  feet  wide,  lined 
with  glazed  brick,  as  is  also  the  whole  room,  and 
shown  in  perspective  in  Fig.  2.  At  one  end  the 
depth  of  water  maintained  is  about  4  feet  6  inches,  at 
the  other  about  6  feet  6  inches.  To  the  left  of  this 
bath  are  the  dressing-rooms,  and  on  the  right  is  a 
position  for  spectators.  Light  is  admitted  through 
skylights  over  the  spectators'  gallery.  The  temper- 
ature of  this  room  is  maintained  at  from  65  to  70  de- 
grees in  cold  weather.  At  one  end  of  the  spectators' 


FIG.  I.  , 

BATHS  OF  THE  NEW  YORK  ATHLETIC  CLUB. 


194 


AMERICAN  PLUM  £  ING    PRACTICE. 


gallery  the  water-closets,  etc.  are  placed,  and  they 
can  be  approached  either  from  the  steps-  of  the  swim- 
ming bath  or  the  gallery.  Here  also  are  two  shower 
baths  for  the  bathers.  At  the  opposite  end  is  the 
barber  shop.  Gas  and  electric  lights  are  both  pro- 
vided for  evening  use.  and  a  swimming  master  is 
always  in  attendance.  Turkish  and  Russian  oaths 
are  also  provided.  A  room  23x24  feet  is  devoted  to 
dressing-rooms  and  lounges;  a  steam-room  with 
marble  terraces  is  i4'6"xg'6";  the  "  hot-room  '  is  9x6 
feet,  a  hot-room  with  plunge  is  I2'6"xi8'6",  one  side 
of  which  is  terraced.  A  spray  and  needle  bath  oc- 
cupies one  corner  of  this  room,  marked  S  N.  The 
temperature  maintained  here  is  about  100°  Fahr., 
•while  a  temperature  of  160°  Fahr.,  is  maintained  in 
the  dry  hot  room.  The  scrubbing-room  is  i8'6"x8', 
and  the  cooling-room  i2'xn'6".  A  study  of  the  plan 
of  this  floor  will  show  the  relative  positions  of  the  ad- 
joining rooms  of  the  baths  and  closets. 

To  warm  the  water  in  the  swimming  bath  or 
plunge  the  exhaust  steam  from  the  pump  and  electric- 
light  engines  can  be  used,  but  the  principal  mode  of 
tempering  the  water  for  the  swimming  bath  is  to  pass 
it  through  a  coil  of  16  i-inch  pipes.  30  feet  long, 
arranged  in  the  boiler  smoke  flue  so  the  waste  heat 
of  combustion  can  be  utilized.  This  is  a  header  coil 
within  a  long  iron  smoke  flue,  and  the  Croton  con- 
nections are  so  arranged  that  the  water  in  flowing  to 


the  swimming  pool,  after  passing  a  filter,  can  be 
either  passed  through  the  coil  or  to  the  pool  direct  by 
the  manipulation  of  two  valves  in  the  engineer's  de- 
partment. 

The  architect  was  Mr.  Charles  W.  Clinton,  and  the 
plumbers  Messrs.  Locke  &  Monroe,  all  of  New  York. 


PLUMBING  OF  A  SWIMMING  BATH. 

(PUBLISHED  IN   1892.) 

PART  I. — GENERAL  VIEW  AND  CROSS-SECTION  OF  THE 
BATH,  DETAILS  OF  CIRCULATION  CONNECTIONS  AND 
CASCADE,  ARRANGEMENT  OF  HEATER  AND  PUMPS. 

FIGURE  i  is  a  general  view  of  the  large  swimming 
bath  in  the  house  of  the  Manhattan  Athletic  Club, 
New  York  City.  The  dimensions  of  the  pool  are 
about  ioo'x2i'x8'  deep.  Fresh  water  is  periodically 
supplied  through  pipe  A,  being  aerated  by  falling 
several  feet  into  the  pool  in  a  wide  sheet  at  B. 
Ordinarily,  circulation  with  the  heating  boiler  is 
maintained  through  the  6-inch  pipes  A  and  D,  as 
indicated  by  the  full  arrows.  E  is  the  overflow  and 
F  is  a  suction  pipe  to  a  filter  pump.  G  is  an  empty- 
ing pipe  to  the  sewer.  Figure  2  is  a  general  cross- 
section  of  the  swimming  bath  showing  its  construc- 
tion. Figure  3  is  a  partial  horizontal  section  and 
plan,  showing  an  enlarged  view  of  the  supply  and 


FIG.  2. 
BATHS  OF   THE  NEW   YORK   ATHLETIC   CLUB. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


195 


circulating:  connections.  Supposing  the  tank  to  be 
full  of  water  it-  temperature  is  maintained  or  ele- 
vated by  the  steam-coil  beater  H,  hot  water  from 
which  circulates  through  pipe  D  and  enters  the  pool 
through  a  grating  a.  O  colder  water  flowing  back 
to  the  heater  to  replace  it  through  the  outlet  I  and 
the  pipe  A.  Inlet  O  is  at  the  middle  of  one  side  wall 
01  the  pool  about  3  feet  above  outlet  I,  which  is  in 
the  bottom  at  one  end,  50  feet  away,  so  as  to  insure 
diffusion  of  the  hottest  water  throughout  the  pool, 
while  the  circulation  through  heater  H  is  so  easy 
chat  the  water  returns  to  the  tank  as  fast  as  its  tem- 
perature is  slightly  raised,  thus  never  becoming  too 


hot  in  small  quantities.  For  this  circulation,  valves 
K  and  L  are  open  and  more  water  may  or  may  not 
be  supplied  at  pleasure  from  the  pump  delivery 
pipe  N.  When  however,  it  is  desired  to  aerate  the 
water  by  delivery  through  cascade  B,  Fig.  i,  valve 
L  and  outlet  I  are  closed  and  the  pump  delivers 
through  pipe  M,  heater  H  pipe  A  and  branches  J  J. 
Figure  4  is  a  vertical  elevation  at  Z  Z,  showing  the 
connections  at  outlet  O,  Fig  3  The  cascade  was 
designed  after  the  completion  of  the  bath,  so  the 
sleeve  Q  was  calked  into  the  outlet  elbow  P  of  cir- 
culation pipe  A.  Brass  pipes  J  J  were  branched 
from  Q,  whose  top  was  fitted  with  a  screw  plug  R. 


Master 
/a 

l    <-*/&* f-cf  tt/es  /flic/  in 
* 

t&icS  fyrtck   u/a/l 


gff^gffi 


FIG.  5 

PLUMBING  IN   A   SWIMMING  BATH. 


196 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


Branches  J  J  have  two  vertical  risers  T  T 
about  12  feet  long,  which  are  connected  by 
an  8-foot  horizontal  pipe  B,  which  has  for 
nearly  its  entire  length  a  3*7- inch  wide  slot 
S  (or  of  a  total  area  about  equal  to  the 
cross-section  of  the  pipe),  through  which 
the  water  escapes,  forming  the  cascade 
when  plug  R  is  screwed  in.  When  R  is 
removed,  circulation  is  directly  through 
the  top  I,  of  sleeve  Q.  A  key  wrench  and 
guide  enable  the  attendant  to  insert  plug 
R  from  the  surface  of  the  water. 


Figure  5  shows  the  heating  tank  H  and  its 
connections.  M  is  the  3-inch  cold-water  supply 
from  the  roof  tank.  A  and  D  are  circulation 
pipes  to  the  swimming  bath,  and  with  their 
valves  L  and  K  are  designated  by  the  same 
reference  letters  as  in  Figs,  i  and  3.  B  is  a  4- 
inch  supply  from  the  city  mains.  It  passes 
through  meter  C  and  has  for  the  pump  service 
a  branch  E  with  the  connections  F  to  the  roof- 
tank  pump  N,  G  to  the  filter  pump,  J  and  I  to 
to  the  bath  pump  K.  House  pump  N  delivers 
to  the  roof  tank  through  pipe  M,  or  to  the 
boilers  by  O,  or  to  the  fire  line  by  P;  Q  is  an 
equalizing  chamber.  R,  S,  and  T  are  branches 


PLUMBING   OF   A   SWIMMING   BATH. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


197 


to  the  suction  and  delivery  pipes  of  pumps  J  and  K. 
U  is  the  emptying  pipe  of  the  swimming  bath,  and 
V  and  W  are  branches  for  sewer  waste  and  pump 
suction  respectively.  X  X  are  live  and  exhaust  steam 
supplies  to  the  heating  coil  H,  and  Y  is  the  return 
steam  pipe  with  trap  Z. 

PART  II.—  BATH  PUMP.  FILTER  PUMP  AND  FILTER. 

WHEN  fresh  water  is  admitted  to  the  swimming 
bath,  the  dirty  water,  overflowing  from  the  opposite 
end  through  pipe  U,  Fig.  5,  may  be  discharged 
through  sewer  pipe  V,  but  is  generally  taken  through 
the  suction  pipe  W  of  pump  J,  Fig.  6,  which  delivers 
it  through  pipe  A  to  the  Jewett  gravity  filter  B, 
whence  it  is  drawn  through  suction  pipe  C  of  pump 
K,  and  delivered  through  pipe  D  to  the  bath  heater 
H,  Figs.  3  and  5.  When  the  water  in  the  filter  rises 
to  a  fixed  height,  the  heavy  float  E,  suspended  by 
chain  F,  attached  to  the  counterweigh  ted  lever  G, 
opens  the  valve  H,  and  admits  steam  from  branch  I  of 
main  V  to  the  pump  K  which  works  until  it  reduces  the 
level  of  the  water  in  B  and  the  descending  float  cuts 
off  the  steam  and  stops  the  pump.  The  pump  may 
also  be  operated  by  the  hand  valve  W.  L  is  a  steam 
pipe  to  pump  J.  and  M  M  are  exhaust  pipes.  N  and 
O  are  overflow  pipes  discharging  into  the  sewer. 
Ordinarily  valve  P  is  closed,  but  it  may  be  opened  to 
drain  pipes  V  and  I  through  pipe  C  into  N.  R  R  are 
delivery  pipes  to  the  boiler  feed  pipe.  S  is  a  hose 
connection  T  T  are  suctions  direct  from  the  city 
water  supply-  and  U  is  a  connection  to  the  delivery 
pipe  of  the  feed  pump.  Thus  these  two  pumps,  J 
and  K,  the  roof  tank  pump  N,  Fig.  5,  and  the  boiler 
feed  pump  (not  here  shown)  are  interchangeable 
throughout,  and  each  can  be  connected  on  to  the 
system  of  any  of  the  others.  When  it  is  necessary  to 
wash  the  filter,  pump  J  forces  city  water  from  pipe 
T  through  pipe  C  and  it  passes  through  the  filter  in 
the  reverse  direction,  and  thus  escapes  into  the  sewer 
pipes. 

Figure  7  shows  the  construction  of  filter  B,  Fig.  6, 
but  represents  the  well  to  be  made  of  hooped  wooden 
staves  instead  of  steel  plates,  as  is  really  the  case. 


About  half  of  the  upper  part  of  the  filter  and  the 
front  wall  of  the  remainder  is  removed  so  as  to  show 
the  washing  and  collecting  apparatus  in  the  filter 
chamber,  from  which  the  filtering  medium  is  shown 
removed.  The  hand  wheel  W,  through  pinion  G, 
shaft  S,  and  beveled  gear  B,  drives  shaft  A,  revolv- 
ing its  horizontal  arms  D  D,  which  carry  cutting 
bars  E  E,  which,  when  the  filter  is  washed,  disinte- 
grate the  filter  bed.  On  the  bottom  of  the  filter  a 
cast-iron  collecting  box  H  has  connected  to  it  numer- 
ous lateral  pipes  with  horizontal  inlets,  through  which 
the  water  is  received  and  delivered  to  the  supply 
main  at  C.  Mr.  P.  Lauritzen  was  the  architect  of  the 
club-house,s  and  the  plumbing  was  executed  by 
Byrne  &  Tucker,  all  of  New  York  City. 


EUROPEAN  RAIN  BATHS. 

(PUBLISHED   IN   1891.) 

THE  recent  agitation  in  New  York  City  for  public 
baths  lends  renewed  interest  to  a  number  of  descrip- 
tions of  similar  European  establishments,  published 
in  THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD  several  years  ago. 
The  illustrations  first  published  in  THE  ENGINEERING 
RECORD  of  October  u  1883,  show  a  bath  exhibited 
at  the  Berlin  Hygienic  Exhibition,  by  Mr.  David 
Grove,  of  Berlin.  The  establishment  was  designed 
to  afford  baths  at  very  low  prices,  in  reach  of  the 
poorer  classes,  and  is  an  extension  of  a  plan  first 
adopted  by  Mr.  Grove  in  a  bath  at  the  barracks  of 
Kaiser  Franz  Garde  Grenadier  Regiment  No.  2,  which 
was  established  in  1878.  At  the  Berlin  exhibition, 
baths  were  given  at  a  price  of  about  2%  cents  each, 
including  soap  and  towels. 

A  special  building  of  corrugated  iron  was  erected 
at  the  Berlin  exhibition  frr  the  bath.  Each  bathing 
cell  in  the  men's  department  is  provided  with  a 
shower  bath  at  about  90°  Fahr.,  and  a  small  douche 
fitted  to  a  flexible  tube  and  supplied  with  cold  water. 
In  the  cells  of  the  women's  department  the  arrange- 
ment is  the  same,  with  the  addition  of  a  similar 
douche  supplied  with  warm  water.  The  water  for 


» 


PUBLIC  BATHS  IN  THE  BERLIN  EXHIBITION. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


the  baths  is  heated  by  an  apparatus  placed  at  one 
end  of  the  building  in  the  center  of  the  chamber  used 
for  drying  the  towels,  Either  fire  or  steam  can  be 
employed  as  heating  agent  for  the  apparatus.  At  the 
end  of  the  building  opposite  to  that  containing  the 
drying  chamber  and  heating  apparatus  is  the  wash- 
house  containing  a  machine  for  washing  the  towels. 

The  building  has  brick  foundations  for  outside  and 
middle  partition  walls :  thickness  of  foundation  one 
brick;  height.  12  inches.  Floors  are  made  of  one 
course  of  bricks  covered  with  asphalt.  Each  cell  has, 
besides,  a  movable  grating  of  laths  covering  the 
whole  floor  The  cells  are  drained  by  a  cast-iron 
pipe  under  the  floors  with  a  branch  to  each  cell.  The 
inlets  to  the  drains  are  covered  with  a  copper  sieve. 
The  dram  pipe  is  trapped  at  its  lower  extremity  at  u 
the  end  ot  the  building.  The  supply  pipe  for  each 
douche  is  a  |^-inch  wrought-iron  pipe. 

The  boiler  of  the  shower  bath  exhibited  is  ar- 
ranged for  heating  by  steam  only,  as  shown.  If  a 
fire  were  placed  beneath  the  boiler  the  condensed 
steam  would  have  to  be  carried  off  at  the  lower  end. 
of  side  of  boiler,  and  a  smoke  flue  could  be  arranged 
in  the  center  of  the  steam  coil.  The  water  for  the 
shower  bath  (only  warm)  is  turned  on  or  off  by  a 
closet  valve  which  allows  a  certain  regulated  quan- 
tity of  water  to  pass  through,  and  then  closes  auto- 
matically if  not  held  open  The  valves  are  pro- 
vided with  a  chain  and  pull.  The  douches  each  have 
a  separate  screw-down  tap  for  cold  or  warm  water 
only.  (See  letters  and  explanation  on  illustrations  ) 

The  rooms  of  the  bath  at  the  exhibition  were  not 
heated,  as  the  establishment  was  intended  for  use 
only  during  the  exhibition,  which  closed  before 
•winter.  The  best  place  for  fixing  pipes  for  heating 
the  rooms  would  probably  be  along  the  foot  of  the 
outer  wall  in  the  passages;  or  under  the  floors  of  the 
latter  The  reservoir  was  made  of  wrought  iron, 
and  was  about  59  inches  long  39  inches  wide,  and  30 
inches  high. 

The  cut  and  data  of  the  public  bathing-houses  at 
Frankfort-on-the-Main.  Germany,  were  given  in  THE 
ENGINEERING  RECORD  of  May  25  1889.  Space, 
water,  and  fuel  were  limited,  and  it  was  desired  to 
furnish  baths  with  soap  and  towel  for  about  2  cents 
each  The  roof  of  the  house  is  an  octagonal  pyramid , 
14  feet  9  inches  high  in  the  center.  The  outside 
octagonal  wall  is  n  feet  9  inches  high,  and  13  feet  9 
inches  long  on  each  face  M  is  the  entrance  for 
women,  and  N  that  for  men.  A  is  the  cashiers 
office:  B  is  the  linen-roomt  C,  the  drying  room,  S. 
chimney.  E,  the  stairs  to  the  basement  where  a 
furnace  heats  water  in  reservoir  D  This  is  in  the 
upper  part  of  room  C  The  same  furnace  also  heats 
the  air  supplied  to  each  bathroom  through  registers 
K,  L  is  the  partition  between  the  men  s  and 
women's  corridors;  I  I  are  water-closets-  F  F  are 
sliding  doors  to  dressing-rooms  G,  which  are  sup- 
plied each  with  a  chair,  a  mirror,  and  a  wardrobe. 
The  floors  are  covered  with  linoleum  The  parM- 
tions  O  are  about  7  feet  3  inches  high.  P  are  water- 
proof curtains  for  the  bath  closets  H 

There  is  no  full-length  bath,  but  each  closet  con- 
tains a  basin  and  a  douche  with  hoc  and  cold  water 


mr. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


199 


cocks,  by  which  the  bather  can  regulate  the 
quantity  and  temperature  of  the  water  at 
will.  The  floors  of  the  closets  have  wooden 
gratings,  through  which  the  water  is  drained 
off. 

The  establishment  cost  25,000  francs,  and 
it  is  estimated  that  it  will  cost  about  4,000 
francs  per  year  to  maintain  it. 

A  public  bath  at  Vienna,  Austria,  described 
in  the  RECORD  of  August  4,  1888,  occupies 
the  ground  floor  of  a  house,  and  comprises,  on 
the  right,  42  baths  for  men;  on  the  left,  28 
baths  for  women,  and  at  the  end  a  lavatory. 
Each  division  contains  an  attendant's  hall, 
a  dressing-room  and  the  bathing-room.  In 
the  latter  a  closet  is  assigned  to  each  bather 
for  his  clothes. 

The  bathrooms  have  sheet-iron  walls,  and 
are  closed  by  curtains.  They  are  2.6  feet 
deep,  3.28  feet  long,  and  each  is  supplied 
with  a  douche  cock,  which  the  bather  can 
operate  at  pleasure.  The  passages  between 
the  groups  of  baths  are  3.28  feet  wide,  and 


are  paved  with  Holland  tiles  set  in  betorr. 
Water  is  taken  directly  from  the  city  mains 
to  two  reservoirs,  each  having  a  capacity  of 
3,434  gallons.  The  water  is  maintained  in 
the  reservoirs  at  a  temperature  of  68°  Fahr. 
in  summer  and  104  degrees  in  winter  by 
means  of  hoc-water  coils  separately  heated. 
Each  reservoir  is  employed  alternately.  The 
rooms  are  heated  by  an  independent  hot- 
water  system. 

For  the  modest  sum  of  5  kreutzers  each 
bather  is  entitled  for  20  minutes  to  the  use 
of  a  dressing-room,  douche  room,  and  ioj^ 
gallons  of  water,  besides  a  pair  of  drawers 
and  a  towel,  and  for  each  woman  a  bathing 
dress  besides. 

According  to  Dr.  Lassar,  Professor  of 
Hygiene  at  the  University  of  Berlin,  who 
took  the  initiative  in  the  establishment  of 
this  type  of  bath,  from  one-eighth  to  one- 
quarter  of  the  above  quantity  of  water  would 
suffice.  The  total  cost  of  establishing  the 
baths  was  43,855  fl.,  apd  the  annual  main- 
tenance, inclusive  of  5  per  cent,  interest  on 
the  first  cost,  is  17,195.5  fl. 


SCO 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


PUBLIC  BATHS  IN  NEW  YORK  CITY. 

(1'CBLIS^ED   IN    1892  ) 

PART  I. — DEVELOPMENT  OF  FOREIGN  AND  AMERICAN 
PUBLIC  BATHS,  GE»kRAL  DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  BARON 
DE  HIRSCH  RAIN  BATHS,  AND  FLOOR  PLANS. 

THE  subject  of  public  bathhouses,  which  has  been 
so  often  represented  in  the  columns  of  THE  ENGI- 
NEERING RECORD,  has  received  recent  increased 
attention  and  has  developed  into  practical  operation 
in  several  places  in  New  York  City.  Some  of  the 
features  of  design  and  construction  are  adapted  and 
modified  from  the  practice  abroad,  and  some  are  en- 
tirely of  a  special  nature.  A  number  of  the  leading 
characteristics  and  practical  details  will  be  illustrated 
in  this  and  subsequent  descriptions,  which  we  have 
prepared  from  the  working  drawings  and  from  spe- 
cial sketches.  A  brief  re'sume'  of  the  subject  will 
show  the  conditions  and  circumstances  now  existing. 
The  Greeks.  Romans,  Egyptians,  and  other  ancients 
provided  and  used  abundant  facilities  for  public 
baths,  freely  available  to  the  poorest  citizens,  and  in 
an  article  of  the  Dietetic  Gazette  of  May,  1891,  Si- 
mon Baruch,  M.  D,,  says  that  in  Russia  every  vil- 
lage has  its  vapor  bath,  where  the  bather,  after  being 
steamed,  is  well  scrubbed  with  soap  and  water  and 
receives  a  massage  with  switches,  and  a  shower  bath. 
Public  baths  are  quite  common  in  Constantinople 
and  in  the  interior  of  Turkey,  the  fees  being  suited 
to  the  very  poorest  people.  The  same  is  true  now  in 
Egypt,  there  being  60  or  70  baths  in  Cairo  alone. 
In  Japan  public  and  private  baths  are  much  fre- 
quented by  both  sexes,  a  bathhouse  being  visible 
every  100  paces  in  Yeddo. 

Since  the  first  one  was  established  at  Frederick 
Street,  Liverpool,  in  1842,  public  bath  and  wash 
houses  have  become  both  popular  and  cheap  in  Eng- 
land, and  they  are  numerous  and  excellent  in  France, 
Belgium,  and  Germany,  where  the  fees,  although 
moderate,  are  often  beyond  the  means  of  the  poor- 
est. The  adaptation  of  these  baths  to  the  popu- 
lous tenement  districts  requires  that  they  be 
located  near  by  and  afford  a  good  bath  quickly,  com- 
fortably, and  cheaply.  The  development  of  the  sys- 
tem has  tended  to  the  abolition  of  the  old-fashioned 
tub,  and  the  adoption  of  shower  baths,  or,  as  they  are 
termed,  rain  baths,  for  which  the  following  advan- 
tages are  claimed.  First,  a  large  economy  over  the 
provision  and  maintenance  of  tubs;  second,  economy 
of  labor,  time,  and  expense  of  filling  and  cleaning 
the  tub  for  every  bath,  the  rain  bath  being  auto- 
matic, simple,  and  requiring  only  supervision,  not 
attendance;  third,  quickness,  greater  efficiency,  the 
mechanical  effect  of  the  descending  stream,  and  the 
prevention  of  contact  of  soiled  water  with  the  body; 
fourth,  economy  of  space;  fifth,  economy  of  water; 
sixth,  freedom  of  danger  of  communicating  dis- 
eases; seventh,  stimulating  and  refreshing  effects. 

Among  the  requisites  for  public  baths  it  is  import- 
ant that  they  should  be  located  in  the  most  populous 
districts  of  laborers'  residences,  that  they  should  be 
neat,  clean,  inviting,  and  well  warmed,  ventilated, 
and  lighted;  that  they  should  be  substantially  and 
economically  constructed  and  managed,  and  open 


every  day  and  night.  The  first  bath  fulfill'flg  these 
conditions  approximately  was  exhibited  at  Berlin 
Hygienic  Exposition  in  1883.  It  was  a  corrugated- 
tin  house  of  about  430  square  feet,  and  was  so  suc- 
cessful that  it  has  since  been  adopted  by  many  bar- 
racks and  factories.  The  first  public  bath  on  this 
principle  was  constructed  in  the  Mondscheingasse, 
Vienna,  when  an  old  building  was  divided  into  72 


BASEMENT  FLOOR 

THE  BARON  DE  HIRSCH  RAIN  BATHS. 

bathing  cells,  and  nine  gallons  of  warm  water,  soap, 
and  towel  are  furnished  for  about  2  cents.  A  public 
bath  association  in  Berlin  furnishes  different  kinds 
of  baths  for  from  2  J^  to  12^  cents  each.  Rain  baths 
have  also  been  provided  for  schools  in  Goettingen, 
Munich,  and  Weimar,  and  are  used  daily  by  75  per 
cent,  of  the  pupils.  Rain  baths  are  also  provided  in 
many  European  factories. 

In  this  country  rain  baths  are  of  very  recent  public 
adoption.  One  of  the  first  was  provided  at  the  sug- 
gestion of  Dr.  Baruch  for  the  New  York  Juvenile 
Asylum.  It  consists  of  68  sprinklers,  20  inches 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


201 


apart,  placed  near  the  ceiling  above  a  bathing  space, 
where  companies  of  children  can  soap  and  rub  them- 
selves every  10  minutes  at  the  rate  of  280  an  hour. 
The  water  is  heated  by  the  admixture  of  steam  and 
delivered  warm. 

Recently  the  trustees  of  the  Baron  de  Hirsch  fund 
in  America  adopted  the  rain-bath  system  for  the  first 
of  a  series  of  free  baths  intended  to  be  distributed 


FIRST 

THE  BARON   DE  HIRSCH   RAIN   BATHS 

throughout  the  tenement  district  of  New  York. 
These  baths  are  located  in  a  corner  building  at  the 
intersection  of  Henry  and  Market  Streets,  in  the 
eastern  end  of  lower  New  York  City.  A  basement 
and  street  floor  of  an  apartment-house  have  been 
rented  for  five  years,  with  privilege  of  renewal,  and 
the  place  has  been  transformed  into  a  bathhouse  ac- 
cording to  plans  and  specifications  prepared  by  Will- 
iam Paul  Gerhard,  C.  E.,  assisted  by  Messrs.  Brun- 
ner  &  Tryon  as  consulting  architects,  Kennedy  & 
McDermott  being  the  plumbers,  Hitchings  &  Co.  fur- 
nishing the  heating  apparatus,  and  James  Elgar 
general  contractor,  all  of  New  York  City. 


Figures  i  and  2  are  plans  of  the  basement  and  first 
floors,  for  men  and  wometf  respectively.  Provision 
has  been  made  for  30  douchesfin  all,  but  only  20  are 
yet  put  up.  The  baths  are,  open  five  days  of  the 
week  from  9  A.  M.  to  10  p.  &.  and  Sundays  6  A.  M. 
until  noon.  A  cake  of  soap  and.  clean  Turkish  towel 
accompany  every  bath,  for  whtch  adults  are  charged 
5  cents  and  children  2  cents.  The  rooms  have  ce- 
ment floors  and  are  heated  by  direct  radiators  sup- 
plied with  hot  water  from  the  bath  heaters.  The 
rooms  are  lighted  by  gas  and  ventilated  by  registers 
into  a  i6x24-inch  galvanized-iron  flue,  inside  of  which 
the  n-inch  smoke  flue  from  the  heaters  is  carried  up 
above  the  roof.  The  bath  apartments  are  partitioned 
by  corrugated-iron  walls  on  angle-iron  frames  with 
wooden  caps,  and  have  wooden  screen  half-doors. 
All  walls,  iron-work,  pipes,  etc.  are  painted  five  coats 
of  special  white  bath  enamel.  The  water-closets,  uri- 
nals, slopsinks,  and  drinking- fountains  are  of  porce- 
lain, and  the  bathtub,  Fig.  2,  is  of  enameled  iron  with 
glazed  rolled  edge,  and  stands  on  high  legs.  It  is  also 
provided  with  movable  seat  inside  for  small  children. 

PART  II  — DETAILS  OF  BATH  COMPARTMENT,  HEATING, 
f- TORINO,  AND  MIXING  ARRANGEMENTS  IN  THE  BARON 
DE  HIRSCH  RAIN  BATHS. 

FIGURE  3  shows  the  arrangements  for  heating,  stor- 
ing, and  mixing  water  in  the  basement.  Water  un- 
der direct  street  pressure  is  taken  through  a  i-inch 
trap  and  2-inch  service  pipe  to  a  2-inch  meter  M,  Fig. 
i,  from  which  it  is  delivered  through  pipe  D  to  the 
600  gallon  galvanized-iron  boiler  B,  and  from  it  flows 
through  the  4-inch  circulation  pipe  E,  and  the  2-inch 
branches  F  F  to  the  two  Hitchings  heaters  A  A,  re- 
turning hot  through  the  4-inch  circulation  pipe  G, 
and  the  2- inch  branches  H  H.  The  heaters  are  also 
connected  to  the  hot-water  radiators  by  the  i  J^-inch 
flow  pipe  I  and  the  return  pipe  J.  Hot  water  is  de- 
livered from  the  boiler  through  the  2-inch  pipe  K, 
which,  entering  with  the  cold-water  pipe  N  direct 
from  the  meter  M,  delivers  to  the  2o-gallon  galvan- 
ized-iron mixing  chamber  C,  from  which  the  water  is 
delivered  at  any  required  constant  temperature  to 
the  bath  douches  through  the  2-inch  pipe  O  and  its 
i  >^-inch  branches  P  P  P.  Ordinarily  valves  a.  b,  d, 
and  e,  are  closed  and  cold  water  enters  at  the  bot- 
tom of  the  boiler  B  through  pipe  D,  and  hot  water 
from  the  circulation  pipe  G  enters  through  branch 
S,  but  if  hot  water  is  needed  quickly,  as  early  in  the 
morning,  before  all  that  in  the  boiler  B  is  heated, 
valve  E  is  opened  so  that  the  boiler  is  supplied  most 
directly  from  the  heaters.  When  the  heaters  A  A 
are  not  required  to  heat  water  for  the  radiators,  the 
thermal  energy  supplied  to  the  boiler  B  will  be  so 
much  increased  that  a  means  for  cooling  the  water 
in  the  boiler  has  been  provided — viz., by  means  of  the 
branch  V  that  is  taken  from  the  cold  supply  pipe  D 
and  terminates  in  a  perforated  horizontal  pipe  6  feet 
long  that  is  near  the  top  of  the  boiler  B,  inside  of  it. 
Ordinarily  the  valve  a  being  open  and  b  closed,  this 
device  is  not  in  operation,  but  if  a  is  closed  and  b 
opened  the  cold-water  supply  is  distributed  all  over 
the  top  of  the  boiler  and  instantly  mixes  with  and 
lowers  the  temperature  of  the  hot  water  supplied 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 
H. 


fl 


through  pip 3  K.  The  boiler  can  be  emptied  through 
the  waste  pipe  X.  W  is  a  drip  pipe  to  empty  the  ris- 
ing lines.  R  is  a  cold-water  supply  to  the  slopsinks 
anu  bowls  and  Q  is  a  water-pressure  gauge.  Tj ,  Ta, 
Tj,  are  special  hot- water  thermometeis  made  by  the 
Hohman  &  Maurer  Thermometer  Company,  of  Pea- 
body,  Mass.  Thermometer  T  indicates  the  tempera- 
ture of  the  hot  water  in  the  center  of  the  hot-water 
tank,  T!  indicates  the  temperature  of  the  mixing 
of  hot  and  cold  water,  T3  indicates  the  temperature 
of  the  water  as  supplied  to  the  douches,  and  Ts  indi- 
cates temperature  of  hot  water  as  coming  from  top  of 
hot-water  tank. 

The  mixing  is  adjusted  by  valves  f  f,  which  are  so 
sensitive  that  a  very  slight  movement  is  shown  on 
the  scale  of  the  thermometer  Tx,  by  which  the  baths 


may  be  regulated,  though  thermometer  Ta  is  usually 
consulted  after  the  valves  are  approximately  set;  h  is 
a  safety  valve.  Pipes  N  and  K  were  at  first  con- 
nected to  the  heating  chamber  at  //,  but  have  been 
found  to  operate  more  satisfactorily  arranged  as  shown 
wiih  a  common  delivery  L.  Y  is  a  smoke  flue  and  Z 
is  the  high  angle-iron  frame  supporting  the  boiler. 

Figure  4  shows  the  construction  and  arrangement 
of  a  bath  compartment.  C  is  the  corridor  from 
the  wooden  screen  doors  D  D,  etc.,  open  into  a 
dressing-room  A,  about  4^x4^  feet,  which  is  sepa- 
rated by  half-partition  E  from  the  bath  place 
B,  which  is  about  4 '-2x4  feet  wide,  with  a 
depressed  basin  F  about  8  inches  deep.  Water 
at  about  a  temperature  of  100  degrees  is  sup- 
plied through  the  i^-inch  distribution  pipe  G,  with 


THR   BARON    UK.  H1RSCH    RAIN    BATHS,    NEW    YORK   CITY. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


branches  H  H,  to  the  copper  douches  I  I, 
etc.,  which  are  above  the  bather's  reach  and  set  at 
an  inclination  to  deliver  water  upon  his  neck  and 
body,  but  not  upon  his  head  unless  he  especially  pre- 
sents it.  The  douche  is  governed  by  a  self-closing 
bibb,  which  is  opened  by  a  lever  I  and  chain  K, 
whose  ring  may  be  pulled  down  to  hook  I  and  secured 
there,  so  as  to  hold  the  valve  open  and  leave  both  the 
bather's  hands  free.  Each  bath  compartment  is  pro- 
vided with  a  stool  P,  seat  O,  mirror  M,  gas  burner  N, 
comb,  soap  tray  S,  and  with  shelf,  clothes  hooks,  and 
a  bolt  on  the  door  D.  The  brass  strainer  or  waste 
pipe  W  is  designed  to  be  not  quite  large  enough  to 


20* 


carry  off  the  water  as  fast  as  it  is  received  from  the 
douche  I,  so  that  it  rises  in  the  basin  F  until  it  over- 
flows through  R,  thus  keeping  a  few  inches  in  the 
basin  F  to  cover  the  bather's  feet. 

Figure  5  shows  the  floor  drainer  (Figs,  i  and  2).  It 
is  essentially  a  brass  bowl  B,  nearly  hemispherical, 
and  about  9  inches  in  diameter,  which  receives  the 
house  flushings,  etc.,  and  delivers  through  pipe  P, 
which  discharges  freely  into  a  trapped  waste  pipe. 
The  flange  F  is  set  flush  with  the  surface  of  the  floor, 
which  is  graded  to  this  point,  and  when  the  valve  V 
is  fully  shut,  the  cover  C  can  be  entirely  closed  and 
rest  in  its  seat,  offering  no  obstruction  above  the  floor 
surface,  [f  however  the  valve  is  raised  at  all,  its 
stem  S  will  project  above  the  bottom  A  of  the  cover 


seat,  and  interfere  as^Sfiown^wlth  the  cover,  thus 
compelling  the  attendant  to  screw  it  down  and  close 
it  tightly  in  order  to  remove  the  floor  obstruction. 
The  valve  stem  S  screws  up  and  down  in  block  G, 
which  is  removable  from  ring  D,  cast  with  legs  E  E 
solid  to  the  bowl  B.  The  solid  head  H  of  stem  S  lifts 
valve  box  I  by  its  cap  J,  through  which  the  screw 
passes  loosely.  K  is  a  rubber  gasket,  L  a  brass  washer, 
M  a  nut.  This  floor  drainer  was  designed  by  Oliver 
Barret,  New  York,  who  has  placed  it  upon  the  market. 

PART  III  — RAIN  BATHS  AT  THE  DEMILT  DISPENSARY, 
GENERAL  PLAN,  DESCRIPTION,  SECTION  OF  BATH- 
COMPARTMENT,  DETAIL  OF  MIXING  VALVES  AND 
ARRANGEMENT  OF  HEATER  AND  BOILER. 

THE  Demilt  Dispensary  is  at  Second  Avenue  and 
Twenty-third  Street,  New  York,  and  in  its  basement 
six  rain  baths  and  one  tub  have  lately  been  placed, 
with  provision  for  increasing  the  number.  The  rooms 
are  arranged  as  shown  in  Fig.  6  and  are  open  to  men 
and  women  on  alternate  days,  a  charge  of  10  cents 
each  being  made,  unless  the  bathers  are  unable  to 
pay, when  free  tickets  are  issued  to  them.  The  rooms 
are  lighted  by  gas  and  heated  by  steam. 

The  six  rain-bath  compartments  are  duplicates  and 
fitted  the  same  as  the  Baron  de  Hirsch  baths  except 
that  the  bath  proper  is  paneled  with  i^-inch  blue- 
veined  Italian  marble  slabs,  and  the  dressing-rooms 
with  wood  painted  with  five  coats  of  Aspin all's 
special  bath  enamel.  The  floor  of  the  office  and  cor- 
ridor is  of  wood,  that  of  the  bath  being  of  cement. 

Unlike  the  system  adopted  for  the  Baron  de  Hirsch 
baths, the  douches  at  this  bath  have  no  bibbs,  and  are 
not  under  the  control  of  the  bather,  but  are  operated 
from  a  valve  board  in  the  office.  Figure  6  is  a  gen- 
eral floor  plan  showing  a  hot-water  heater  A,  the  200- 
gallon  boiler  B,  and  the  valve  board  C;  i,  2,  3,  4,  5,  6 
are  the  rain  baths  and  7  is  a  room  for  invalids,  chil- 
dren, etc.,  with  a  high,  enameled  iron,  rolled-edge 
tub  T.  Figure  7  is  a  section  at  Z  Z,  Fig.  6.  When  a 
bather  is  undressed  he  touches  the  electric  button 
and  the  attendant  at  the  valve  board  mixes  the  hot 
and  cold  water  and  turns  it  in  his  douche,  afterwards 
further  regulating  the  temperature  if  requested  to. 
When  the  bather  has  finished  he  again  presses  the 
button  and  the  water  is  turned  off.  Figure  8  shows 
the  heating,  storing,  mixing,  and  delivering  arrange- 
ments. Cold  water  under  city  pressure  is  delivered 
to  the  boiler  B  through  the  2-inch  pipe  E;  circulates 
to  and  from  the  heater  A  through  2-inch  pipes  F  F 
and  is  delivered  through  2-inch  pipe  Gto  the  2^-inch 
heater  H  (on  the  valve  board  C,  Fig.  6).  Cold  water 
is  also  delivered  through  the  pipe  D  to  the  heater  I. 
and  a  branch  J  from  each  of  these  headers  unites  in 
the  mixing  chamber  K  to  form  a  pair  for  each  of  the 
six  rain  baths,  the  numbers  of  which  are  painted 
between  them.  The  water  is  mixed  by  valves  M  M, 
and  when  the  special  thermometer  N  indicates  the 
required  temperature  (normally  ico°  Fahr.),  valve  O 
is  opened  and  the  water  is  delivered  through  pipe  L 
to  whichever  bath  compartment  is  indicated  by  the 
electric  annunciator  P,  which  rings  a  bell  and  raises 
a  pendulum  bob  attached  to  the  corresponding 
numeral  above.  A  is  a  safety  valve,  R  an  emptying 


204 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


pipe,  and  S  S  S  pipe  legs  supporting  the  boiler  B.  T 
is  a  drip  pipe  for  emptying  lines  I  I,  etc.  Meter 
experiments  by  Mr.  Gerhard  showed  that  with  both 
cocks  open  the  bathtub  was  filled  to  within  5  inches 
of  the  overflow  (45  gallons)  in  two  minutes,  and  that 
the  douche  with  both  valves  half  open,  under  the 
same  water  pressure,  about  20  pounds  discharged 
about  7.1  gallons  per  minute,  so  that,  allowing  three 
minutes  douche  for  each  bather,  not  quite  half  a  tub- 
ful  of  water  is  used.  Probably,  however,  it  is  used 
much  more  lavishly  in  practice,  as  the  attendant 
states  that  the  2oo-gallon  boiler  does  not  suffice  well 
for  more  than  six  simultaneous  baths. 

PART  IV. — RAIN  BATHS  IN  THE  HEBREW  INSTITUTE,  GEN- 
ERAL DESCRIPTION,  PLAN,  ELEVATION  AND  SECTION 
OF  A  BATH  COMPARTMENT,  ELEVATION  OF  HEATER. 

THE  Hebrew  Institute  is  a  newly  completed  build- 
ing designed  by  Architects  Brunner  &  Tryon,  assisted 
by  William  P.  Gerhard,  as  consulting  engineer  for 
the  sanitary  work,  and  Mr.  Alfred  R.  Wolff,  as  con- 
sulting engineer  for  the  heating  and  ventilation.  It 
is  located  at  Jefferson  Street  and  East  Broadway, 
in  eastern  lower  New  York.  Its  functions  are 
intended  to  be  similar  to  those  of  Cooper  Institute,, 
and  it  contains  a  large  assembly-room  with  stage, 
several  classrooms,  reading-room  and  library,  work- 
shop, gymnasium,  and  shower  baths.  There  are  five 
baths  (Figs.  9,  10,  and  u)  located  in  the  upper  story, 
and  have  a  cement  floor  ("  flintolithic  pavement  ") 
raised  one  step  above  the  general  floor  level.  The 
bathroom  also  contains  a  large  enameled  washup  sink, 
in  the  adjoining  large  dressing-room  are  lockers,  and 
in  another  room  a  slopsink,  a  large  enameled  sink, 
water-closets,  and  urinals.  The  five  compartments 
are  about  4x5  feet  in  size  and  paneled  with  blue- 
veined  Italian  marble  slabs  6  feet 
high.  Each  entrance  is  furnished 
with  a  portiere  and  a  half  screen 
*O 


door.  The  rooms  are  ventilated  by  wall  registers,  fur- 
nished with  gas  and  electric  light  and  heated  by  direct 
steam  radiators.  Figuresg,  10,  and  n  show  the  fittings 
for  one  of  the  bath  compartments.  Hot  and  cold 
water  is  supplied  by  pipes  H  and  C  respectively,  the 
bather  admitting  first  cold  water  by  valve  c  and  then 
tempering  it  to  the  required  degree  by  admitting  hot 
water  through  valve  L.  The  water  is  mixed  in  the 
chamber  G,  where  a  special  hot-water  thermometer  T 
indicates  the  temperature  of  the  water  delivered 


RAIN  BATHS  IN  THE  DEMILT  DISPENSARY,   NEW  YORK   CITY. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


205 


through  pipe  P  to  the  brass  douche  A.  The  douche  is 
controlled  by  the  self-closing  bibb  B,  is  operated  by  a 
chain  D,  which  terminates  in  a  ring  E  and  may  thus 
be  secured  to  the  hook  F  so  as  to  hold  the  valve  open 
and  permit  the  bather  to  use  both  hands  freely.  I  is 
an  emptying  cock,  J  is  a  towel  rack,  K  is  a  soap  cup, 


L  the  floor  strainer,  and  M  a  waist  trap,  the  trap 
screw  of  which  is  accessible  from  the  room  below. 
The  douche  and  all  the  pipes  and  fittings  are  of 
brass,  nickel-plated.  Water  is  furnished  from  two 
storage  tanks  on  the  roof  and  the  hot  supply  is 
obtained  from  a  small  Foley  hot-water  heater  in  the 
basement. 

Figure  12  is  an  elevation  of  the  heater,  which  is 
located  in  the  basement,  and  is  operated  by  steam 
from  the  steam-heating  boilers.  Cold  water  enters 
the  main  drum  k  through  the  supply  pipe  A  and 
is  heated  by  the  steam  coil  B  with  flow  and  return 
pipes  L  and  M.  The  hot  water  passes  at  C  into 
the  upper  drum  I,  where  it  operates  the  expansion 
rod  D  and  is  delivered  to  the  baths,  washbowls, 
etc.  through  pipe  H.  D  is  a  flexible  metal  rod 
fastened  at  F,  passing  around  a  loose  drum  E  and 
movable  at  G,  where  it  is  attached  to  a  rod  bearing 
on  the  short  arm  of  lever  N.  When  the  water  cools 
to  a  certain  temperature,  rod  D  contracts  and  throws 


SECTION  Y-Y-Y-Y 

the  bottom  of  lever  N  to  the  right,  carrying  with  it 
the  attached  stem  V  of  the  valve  P,  which  is  thus 
opened  to  a  greater  or  less  degree  and  admits  to 
the  coil  B  an  amount  of  steam  from  the  pipe  L  pro- 
portioned to  the  coldness  of  the  water.  As  the  tem- 
perature of  the  water  rises,  rod  D  elongates  and 
allows  the  arm  N  rb  be  forced  back,  and  the  valve  P 
is  closed  by  the  action  of  the  counterweight  W 
attached  to  the  long  arm  S  of  the  bent  lever,  of  which 
the  short  arm  R  is  opposed  to  N.  This  lever  is 
pivoted  at  T  to  a  supporting  bracket  Q.  V  is  a  cir- 
culation pipe.  O  is  a  set  screw  to  adjust  the  rod  D 
to  operate  within  the  temperature  limits  desired,  and 
it  is  ordinarily  set  to  allow  a  maximum  temperature 
of  120°  Fahr.  The  valve  acts  positively  with  a  dif- 
ference of  about  10°  Fahr.,  and  as  it  automatically 
proportions  the  steam  used  to  the  water  drawn,  it  is 
believed  to  be  economical,  besides  preventing  the 
possibility  of  scalding  at  the  baths  by  too  hot  water. 

The  plumbing  of  the  work  described  above  was 
executed  by  S.  &  A   Clark,  of  New  York  City. 


206 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


SPECIAL    BATHS    IN    ST.  VINCENT'S 
HOSPITAL. 

(PUBLISHED   IN    i8g2  ) 

IN  St.  Vincent's  Hospital,  Seventh  Avenue  and 
Tweltth  Street.  New  York  City,  a  suite  of  rooms  has 
been  arranged  and  fitted  for  ordinary  and  special 
baths,  as  shown  in  plan  in  Fig.  i ,  where  A  A  are 
reclining  and  massage  rooms  with  chairs,  sofas, 
tables  and  other  furniture.  B  B  are  steam  rooms,  C 
is  a  needle  bath,  D  a  Turkish  bathroom,  E  an  elec- 
tro-chemical bathroom,  and  F  is  a  special  medicinal 
vapor  bathroom,  where  the  patient  is  seated  inside  a 
marble  cabinet  G,  within  which  his  body  is  surrounded 
by  the  medicated  vapor.  The  opening  L  fits  about 
the  patient's  neck,  so  that  his  head  is  in  the  outer 
atmosphere.  Figure  2  is  a  general  perspective  view 


of  the  cabinet  G  as  closed,  and  Fig.  3  is  the  same 
open.  The  wails,  panels,  bottom  and  adjacent 
wainscot  are  of  Italian  marble,  and  all  the  exposed 
metal-work  is  silver-plated.  A  channel  H  H  H  is 
cut  in  the  bottom  siab,  and  may  be  filled  with  water 
from  pipe  I,  commanded  by  valve  J.  Any  required 
substance  may  be  dissolved  in  this  water,  and  when 
the  patient  is  properly  seated,  with  his  neck  in  the 
opening  L,  the  panels  P  P  P  P  are  closed  and  steam 
admitted  through  the  valve  K  to  the  pipe  H,  which 
is  perforated  on  its  under  side,  produces  the  vapor. 
The  vapor  is  chiefly  confined  by  the  close  lap  joints 
of  the  marble.  M  is  a  stand-pipe  overflow  and  waste 
plug,  and  N  N  are  brass  counterweights,  lead-filled. 
Figure  4  shows  the  joints  of  the  panels  a,  b,  c,  d,  e, 
and  f>  Fig.  2.  The  work  was  designed  and  con- 
structed by  Byrne  &  Tucker,  New  York  City. 


SPECIAL  BATHS  IN   ST.    VINCENT'S   HOSPITAL,   NEW  YORK   CITY. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


GAS  PIPING  FOR  BUILDINGS. 

(Reprint  of  an  editorial  from  THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD 
of  September  22,  1894.) 

THERE  are  few  features  of  modern  building  con- 
struction which  do  not  now  receive  thorough  treat- 
ment when  the  design  is  fortunate  enough  to  fall 
into  the  hands  of  competent  architects  and  engi- 
neers, and  yet  there  is  one  very  important  portion 
of  the  structural  outfit,  so  to  speak,  of  a  building, 
which  up  to  the  present  time  receives  no  intelligent 
consideration  whatever,  except  in  very  rare  cases. 
We  refer  to  the  gas  piping  of  buildings  of  all  classes. 
The  gas  companies  have  made  practically  all  pos- 
sible advances  in  processes  of  manufacture  and  dis- 
tribution, and  while  there  may  be  unfairness  in  some 
exceptional  instances,  in  the  main  the  gas  consumers 
have  largely  reaped  the  benefit  of  the  resulting 
economies. 

Municipal  building  regulations  have  generally  pre- 
scribed fairly  wise  and  reasonable  general  rules 
under  which  buildings  and  their  various  structural 
appointments  are  to  be  constructed,  but  on  the  ques- 
tion of  running  gas  lines  for  proper  distribution 
within  the  buildings  they  have  been  essentially 
silent.  Architects  also  virtually  have  turned  over  to 
gasfitters,  as  a  general  statement,  the  whole  question 
of  fitting  the  buildings  which  come  under  their  design 
and  supervision.  What  ought  to  be  everybody's 
business  seems  to  have  been  nobody's  business,  and 
consequently  there  probably  has  never  been  any 
portion  of  the  construction  and  fitting  of  a  building 
which  has  exhibited  more  ignorance  and  gross  blun- 
dering than  the  general  run  of  the  gas-pipe  plans 
of  many  structures  now  standing,  and  that  is  saying 
a  great  deal.  As  is  almost  or  quite  the  invariable 
result  in  ?uch  matters  the  purchaser  and  the  con- 
sumer are  the  principal  sufferers.  It  certainly  is  not 
creditable  to  the  architect  or  engineer  thus  to  fail  to 
properly  specify,  or  generally  to  specify  at  all,  for  so 
important  a  part  of  his  work,  and  no  municipal  regu- 
lation can  be  considered  as  complete,  either  in  its 
form  or  operation,  unless  it  suitably  covers  a  class  of 
work  which  so  immediately  affects  the  comfort  and 
health  of  almost  every  human  being  and  the  welfare 


of  every  business  within  its  corporate  limits.  It  is 
the  legitimate  desire,  of  course,  of  the  gasfitter  to 
reduce  to  his  client  the  total  cost  of  his  work  to  a 
minimum,  and  he  gets  his  work  as  the  lowest  bidder, 
hence  the  result  is  all  but  a  universal  decrease  of  size 
of.  pipes  in  a  building  far  below  those  which  ought 
to  exist  for  a  proper  supply  at  the  points  of  actual 
consumption.  Besides,  a  lack  of  proper  knowledge 
of  design  causes  a  very  general  and  sometimes  an 
utterly  absurd  disproportion  between  the  main  and 
running  lines  and  branches,  which  results,  in  con- 
nection with  the  fundamental  difficulties  of  small 
pipes,  in  excessive  complaints  from  users  in  many 
instances,  and  in  costly  and  inefficient,  if  usually  un- 
noticed, illumination  or  heating,  and  very  costly 
alterations  and  additions  to  the  piping  in  the  modern 
fireproof  building. 

Indeed  it  cannot  be  expected  that  gasfitting  will 
be  done  carefully  and  efficiently  or  with  materials 
and  workmanship  of  excellent  quality  unless,  like 
other  branches  of  mechanical  work,  it  is  done  under 
intelligent  specifications,  faithfully  executed. 

It  is  true  that  there  have  been  a  few  very  creditable 
efforts  to  remedy  this  state  of  things,  but  they  may 
be  said  almost  to  be  included  in  the  excellent  little 
work  by  William  Paul  Gerhard,  and  perhaps  the  un- 
duly short  printed  regulations  of  one  or  two  gas  com- 
panies in  the  country,  and  they  have  not  produced 
any  apparent  improvement  in  the  general  situation. 

Since  the  advent  of  high  buildings  with  fire- 
proof floors  and  the  demand  for  gas  for  cooking  and 
heating  has  arisen,  the  embarrassment  due  to  the 
causes  cited  have  been  more  pronounced.  In  view, 
therefore,  of  the  interests  involved,  THE  ENGINEER- 
ING RECORD,  in  pursuance  of  its  policy  to  elevate 
and  advance  all  branches  of  building  construction, 
submits  to  architects  and  engineers,  as  well  as  munic 
ipal  authorities,  a  general  system  of  specifications 
and  rules  under  which  buildings  may  be  fitted  with 
gas  pipes  so  as  to  produce  the  greatest  excellence  in 
design  and  the  most  efficient  and  economical  use  of 
gas.  After  a  very  thorough  examination  of  the 
whole  question,  and  after  many  conferences  with 
large  firms  of  gasfitters,  engineers  of  gas  works,  and 


208 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


others  directly  interested  in  the  attainment  of  the 
desired  end,  the  specifications,  tables,  and  rules 
which  we  print  herewith  have  been  prepared. 
These  regulations  have  been  made  essentially 
to  agree  with  the  few  best  efforts  which  have 
already  been  made  for  the  same  purpose;  they  in- 
volve no  conditions  inconsistent  with  the  best  inter- 
ests of  gas  consumers,  gas  producers,  or  gasfitters, 
but  they  have  been  based  upon  such  reasonable  con- 
ditions as  will  secure  in  all  respects  the  best  practice 
to  all  those  departments  of  gas  interests.  The  tables 
showing  the  sizes  required  for  the  prescribed  number 
of  burners,  logs,  heaters,  and  ranges  are  based  upon 
a  very  careful  and  thorough  investigation,  both  ana- 
lytical and  experimental,  in  regard  to  the  flow  of  gas 
through  the  pipes  of  the  maximum  lengths  indicated. 
The  resulting  sizes  are  in  some  cases  a  little  larger 
than  hitherto  prescribed,  while  in  other  cases  they 
are  not;  but  in  all  cases  they  will  insure  the  freeflow 
of  the  necessary  volume  of  gas,  and  thus  entirely 
avoid  the  annoyances  and  loss  due  to  too  small  pipes. 
The  slight  increase  of  cost  of  piping  from  this  source 
is  too  small  to  be  appreciable  in  the  total  cost  of  any 
building  whatever. 

Should  it  be  desired  by  architects  or  engineers, 
these  general  regulations  can  easily  be  supplemented 
by  other  clauses  or  paragraphs  designed  to  cover 
special  cases  or  details  which  it  would  not  be  proper 
or  suitable  to  recognize  in  the  concise  regulations 
designed  to  meet  the  purposes  of  those  which  we 
print.  We  commend  these  specifications  to  the  most 
careful  and  favorable  consideration  of  architects,  gas 
companies,  and  the  building  departments  of  cities. 
They  have  been  carefully  and  rationally  designed  to 
fill  a  gap  in  building  specifications  and  general  regu- 
lations which  has  been  the  cause  of  most  serious  and 
widespread  annoyance  and  loss. 


ESSENTIAL  REQUIREMENTS  FOR  THE 
GAS-PIPING  OF  BUILDINGS. 

As  THE  result  of  a  special  investigation,  the  accom- 
panying table  and  recommendations  are  submitted  as 
the  basis  for  proper  specifications  for  the  gas-piping 
of  buildings  to  meet  the  demands  of  modern  require- 
ments for  lighting,  heating,  cooking,  and  manufac- 
turing: 

GENERAL    REQUIREMENTS. 

1.  All  lines  of  piping  throughout  the  building,  ex- 
cept drops,  must  be  laid  with  grade  so  as  to  drip  or 
drain  back  into  the  risers,  with  no  depressions  to 
hold  condensation.      Drips   with   drip   pipes  where 
needed  must  be  provided  at  meters  and  at  such  other 
points  as  the  plan  of  piping  may  render  necessary. 

2.  No  riser  must  be  less  than  three-fourths  inch  in 
diameter  in  any  case,  and  all  risers  must  be  covered 
up  on  inside  partitions  so  as  to  be  thoroughly  pro- 
tected from  freezing.      Wherever    risers    or    other 
pipes  cannot  be  guarded  in  this  manner,  they  shall 
be  protected  from  frost  by  special  and  effective  cov- 
erings. 


Table  of  Maximum  Lengths  of  Pipe  and  Number 
of  Lights  with  Corresponding  Diameters. 

The  results  in  this  table  are  based  upon  a  specific  gravity 
of  0.6  and  a  pressure  of  gas  of  0.5  inch  of  water. 


Diameter  of  Pipe, 
Inches. 

Maximum  Length, 
Feet. 

Maximum  Number, 
Lights.* 

3/8 

20 

2 

X 

1 

30 
40 
60 

3 
6 

10 

1K 

70 

15 

2 

IOO 

150 

30 
60 

2/^ 

2OO 

IOO 

3 

300 

2OO 

4 

400 

3OO 

4^ 

500 

4OO 

*  One  burner  delivering  6  cubic  feet  per  hour. 


Gas  Logs  and  Ranges* 


Diameter  of  Pipe, 
Inches. 

Maximum  Length, 
Feet. 

Maximum  Number, 
Lights. 

X 

IOO 

I 

H 

IOO 

2 

i 

IOO 

4 

'X 

IOO 

7 

*  The  numbers  for  gas  logs  and  ranges  in  the  third  column 
of  the  table  refer  to  sizes  for  which  the  consumption  in  any 
log  or  range  does  not  exceed  35  cubic  feet  per  hour. 

The  sizes  of  piping  for  gas  logs  and  ranges  are  for  single 
lines  run  from  or  near  the  meter,  or  source  of  supply,  for  the 
specific  purpose  indicated. 

When  gas  logs  and  ranges  are  supplied  by  branch  pipes, 
or  when  any  branch  pipes  are  run  trom  the  main  system  of 
the  building,  the  combined  sectional  areas  of  all  the  pipe 
sections  must  exceed  the  sectional  area  of  the  main  supply 
pipe  sufficiently  to  maintain  the  proper  flow. 


3.  Wherever  practicable  all  piping  shall    be  ex- 
posed, but  piping  that  must  be  concealed  shall  first 
be  thoroughly  inspected  by  the  gas  company,  and 
the  gasfitter  shall  give  due  notice  when  the  piping 
is  ready  for  inspection.     Unexposed  piping  must  be 
so  concealed  as  to  be  readily  accessible  in  case  of 
examination  or  repairs.     Wherever  practicable,  as  in 
floors,  the  concealment  shall  be  made  by  boards  over 
the  pipes,  secured  by  brass  or  other  non-corrodible 
screws. 

4.  In  cases  where  extensions  are  made  care  must 
be  taken  to  extend  with  such  sizes  that  the  rules  al- 
ready prescribed  shall  be  maintained. 

5.  All  drop  pipes  must  be  left  perfectly  plumb  and 
well  secured  in  that  position. 

6.  Long  runs  of  piping  must  be  firmly  supported 
at   frequent   intervals  so   that  no   sagging  nor  de- 
pressions can  occur  in   which  condensation  can  col- 
lect. 

7.  If  pipes  run  across  wooden  beams  or  joists  the 
requisite  cutting,  notching,  or  boring  shall  never  be 
more  than  2  inches  in  depth  nor  more  than  3  feet 
from  bearings,  and  as  near  the  latter  as  possible. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


209 


8.  Lines  of  piping  shall  not  be  placed  under  tiled 
or    parquet    floors,  marble  or  other  stone  or  metal 
platforms,  or  under  hearthstones,  unless  the  local 
conditions    render    such    procedures    imperatively 
necessary. 

9.  All    pipes    shall    be  of    the    best    quality    of 
vvrought-iron  welded  gas  pipe,  and  all  fittings,  in- 
cluding couplings,  elbows,  bends,  tees,  crosses,  re- 
ducers, etc.,  under  z  inches  diameter,  shall  be  extra 
heavy  malleable   fittings;  those  of  larger  diameter 
maybe  of  cast  iron.     These  pipes  'and  fittings  may 
be  plain,  galvanized,  or  made  non-corrodible  by  any 
effective  method. 

10.  Pipes  and  fittings  are  to  be  put  together  with 
screw  joints  and  red  lead,  or  red  and  white  lead 
mixed  with  joints  made  perfectly  gas-tight. 

11.  All  pipes  shall  be  firmly  and  safely  secured  in 
position  with  hooks,  wrought-iron  straps,  or  hold- 
fasts, secured  with  screws  at  close  intervals,  so  that 
continued  use  in  proper  line  and  grade    may    be 
effectively  secured. 

12  Meters  shall  be  placed  where  they  will  be 
most  conveniently  accessible  for  reading  the  index 
and  for  examination  and  repairs,  and  when  placed 
on  the  walls  the  minimum  height  above  floors  shall 
be  2  feet  for  the  bottom  of  the  smallest  meters  and 
the  maximum  height  shall  be  8  feet  for  the  top  of  the 
largest  meters.  The  sizes  of  connections  shall  be  as 
follows: 


3  light  3^-inch  diameter. 

5  ^A 

10          i^ 

20  1% 

30  I  >4 

45      i# 


60  light  2-inch  diameter. 


13.  The  completed  piping  shall  be  tested  by  some 
competent  authority,  who  shall  give  a  written  certifi- 
cate of  the  results  before  any  of  it  is  covered  at  any 
point.  All  outlets  shall  be  tightly  capped  and  the 
whole  system  shall  be  tested  preferably  with  a 
mercury  gauge,  or  by  a  low-pressure  spring  gauge 
which  has  been  recently  and  authoritatively  tested 
by  a  mercury  column.  When  air  is  pumped  into  a 
completed  system  of  pipes  until  the  pressure  reaches 
12  inches  of  mercury  and  stands  or  remains  stationary 
for  five  minutes,  or  if  the  column  of  mercury  does 
not  fall  more  than  i  inch  per  hour,  the  system  may 
be  considered  satisfactorily  tight.  Otherwise  leaks 
must  be  sought  and  stopped  and  the  testing  repeated 
until  the  preceding  requirements  are  satisfied.  When 
extensions  to  completed  systems  are  made  the  same 
tests  shall  be  applied  to  the  extensions  before  they 
are  put  in  use.  In  the  case  of  large  buildings  the 
entire  system  may  be  tested  in  suitable  sections. 


DRAINAGE   BLUNDERS. 

[BY  ALBERT  M.  WEBSTER,  A.  M.  AM.  SOC.  C.  E. 

(PUBLISHED   IN   1892  AND  1893) 

CHAPTER   I, 

THE  foundation  stone  on  which  the  structure  of 
Sanitary  Science  and  Preventive  Medicine  rests  is 
the  germ  theory  of  disease.  The  assumption  is  that 


a  spec  fie  disease  is  produced  by  the  presence  of  a 
specific  germ  in  the  blood,  without  which  the  disor- 
der cannot  occur.  The  diseases  at  present  attributed 
to  germ  origin  are  known  as  zymotic  diseases,  and  it 
is  with  these  that  sanitary  science  has  to  deal. 

The  assumption  of  the  presence  of  the  specific  germ 
in  the  blood  directs  attention  to  the  channels  through 
which  it  may  be  introduced,  and  to  methods  of  inter- 
cepting and  destroying  it  before  it  enters  the  system. 
Food  consumed  and  air  breathed  are  the  general  con- 
veyors of  the  zymotic  germs,  infection  through 
wounds  excepted.  Complete  sterilization  of  these 
conveyors  would  stamp  out  zymotic  disease;  but  san- 
itary science,  recognizing  the  practical  impossibility 
of  this  effort,  directs  attention  also  to  the  source  of 


'Tilt  otra,, 


the  difficulty,  the  breeding  grounds  most  favorable  to 
the  development  of  the  germs;  in  other  words,  at- 
tempts the  sterilization,  removal,  and  destruction  of 
organic  filth. 

Municipal  sanitation  directs  its  efforts  to  these  fields 
in  the  aggregate,  as  effecting  the  community.  House 
sanitation  extends  this  work  into  the  dwelling.  Its 
canons  are  the  immediate  removal  of  all  organic 
waste,  and  the  insurance  of  pure  air  and  food  within 
the  dwelling. 


210 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


The  removal  of  waste  is  largely  effected  through 
the  drains  by  the  water-carriage  system.  The  nec- 
essary fouling  of  the  drains  makes  it  imperative  that 
the  air  from  them  should  find  no  entrance  into  the 
household,  and  it  is  one  of  the  purposes  of  modern 
sanitary  plumbing  to  insure  the  security  of  these 
drainage  channels. 

The  accompanying  illustrations  of  defects  in  plumb- 
ing in  this  particular  have  been  taken  from  examples 
found  in  New  York  houses  of  the  better  class  in  fash- 


ionable parts  of  the  city.  In  general  they  are  houses 
in  which  the  visible  plumbing  has  been  remodeled. 
In  each  case  the  defective  drain  was  in  direct  air 
communication  with  the  furnace,  and  when  the  fur- 
nace was  in  operation  there  was  little  reason  to  doubt 
that  the  air  from  the  drains  was  drawn  into  the  fur- 
nace and  distributed  through  the  hot-air  flues  to  the 
house.  The  defects  were  discovered  by  the  smoke 
test.  A  fan  blower  with  furnace  and  appliance  for 
producing  pungent  sulphurous  smoke  is  attached  to 
the  soil  pipe  at  the  roof  and  set  in  operation.  The 
smoke  travels  through  the  system  of  pipes  and  issues 
from  defects  or  openings  which  may  exist,  either 
concealed  or  exposed. 

In  the  case  shown  in  Fig.  4.  smoke  was  blown  into 
the  main  soil  pipe  at  the  roof.  It  issued  through  the 
other  pipes,  extending  to  the  roof,  and  also  through 
the  soil  and  other  pipes  at  the  roof  of  the  adjoining 
house,  and  at  the  fresh  air  inlet  of  the  adjoining 
house;  arguing  the  connection  of  the  drains  of  the 
two  houses.  The  smoke  also  appeared  at  every  hot- 
air  register,  in  the  house  under  test.  The  owner  was 
confident  that  there  was  no  connection  between  the 
furnace  and  drains  in  his  house,  as  the  plumbing  had 
been  very  recently  renewed  at  considerable  expense. 
On  opening  the  furnace  air  chamber  it  was  found  full 
of  the  smoke,  which  was  seen  to  issue  through  defec- 
tive joints  in  the  masonry  of  the  party  wall,  against 
which  the  furnace  was  built.  The  drains  in  the 
neighboring  house  were  uncovered  and  found  to  be 
leaking  and  defective  close  to  the  party  wall.  Re- 
ferring to  Fig.  4,  the  course  of  the  smoke  had  been 
through  the  pipe  at  the  roof  to  the  cellar  and  through 
to  the  adjoining  house  drain  B  into  the  furnace  air 
chamber  D  by  way  of  the  defective  joints  in  the  party 
wall  C,  and  from  the  furnace  through  the  flues  F  to 
the  rooms  in  the  house  G  G. 

Figure  i  illustrates  a  somewhat  similar  example, 
except  that  the  drains  which  ran  under  the  furnace 
were  of  earthenware  and  the  joints  defective,  and 
there  was  no  connection  with  the  neighboring  house. 
As  in  the  first  case,  the  smoke  blown  into  the  soil 
pipe  at  the  roof  issued  from  every  register  in  the 
house. 

Figure  2  illustrates  a  case  similar  to  Fig.  i,  except 
that  the  drain  which  ran  under  the  furnace  was  an 
old  brick  drain  with  flagstone  cover,  the  joints  of 
which  were  open,  and  the  drain  itself  was  in  foul 
condition. 

Figure  3  is  an  example  of  the  contamination  of  the 
air  supply  to  the  house,  through  an  untrapped  yard 
drain  A  opening  close  to  the  cold-air  inlet  B  to  the 
furnace  F.  When  the  furnace  was  in  operation  air 
was  drawn  into  the  air  chamber,  through  the  cold-air 
box  B,  and  was  distributed  to  the  rooms  of  the  house 
through  the  flues  G.  The  untrapped  yard  drain  A 
being  so  near  to  the  furnace  inlet,  made  it  more  than 
likely  that  air  from  the  drains  was  at  times  drawn 
into  the  house. 

CHAPTER  II. 

THE  examples  of  air  contamination  shown  in  this 
chapter  relate  in  general  to  defects  in  the  house 
plumbing  proper.  The  first  example  shown  in  Fig. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


811 


BEDROOM 


> 


BUTLER* 


"7ffE  EN6IN£ERIflG  RECORD.  & 
FIG.  5. 


FIG.  8. 


FIG.  9. 


Tttt  tHUNi£R\H&TC£.OH\k 

» 

FIG.  6. 


FIG.  7. 
DRAINAGE   BLUNDERS. 


212 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING    PRACTICE. 


5  was  found  in  a  Madison  Avenue,  New  York,  dwell- 
ing of  comparatively  recent  construction.  The  main 
soil  pipe  A  extended  from  the  cellar  to  the  roof,  and 
was  provided  with  an  accompanying  "  back-air  "  pipe 
B  for  trap  ventilation.  Both  pipes  passed  through 
bedrooms  on  the  upper  floors,  and  were  boxed  in  with 
a  light  wood  casing  F.  A  smoke  test  revealed  the 
presence  of  a  serious  leak  near  the  butler's  sink,  and 
on  stripping  the  pipe  it  was  found  that  the  lower  end 
C  of  the  "  back-air  "  pipe  B  was  quite  open,  no  at- 
tempt having  been  made  to  seal  it.  The  plumber 
who  did  the  work  had  evidently  intended  to  connect 
with  C  the  back-air  pipe  from  fixtures  on  the  floor 
below,  but  another  arrangement  had  proved  more 
convenient,  and  the  open  end  C  was  overlooked  and 
forgotten.  An  interesting  feature  connected  with 
the  test  was  the  course  of  the  smoke,  which  traveled 
from  the  open  end  of  pipe  C  behind  the  wood  casing 
Fas  through  a  flue,  and  appeared  three  stories  above 
in  the  children's  bedroom,  issuing  through  openings 
G  at  the  floor.  As  the  children  at  the  time  were 
under  treatment  for  diphtheritic  throat  affections, 
there  appears  reasonable  ground  to  believe  that  the 
defective  plumbing  was  the  cause  of  the  difficulty. 

Figure  6  was  an  arrangement  found  in  a,  country 
house  where  at  certain  times  one  of  the  rooms  H 
seemed  to  be  contaminated  with  drain  air.  The  soil 
pipe  A  extended  above  the  roof  with  the  open  end  B 
close  to  the  top  C  of  the  chimney  flue  D,  from  the 
fireplace  F  of  the  loom  H.  Under  certain  condi- 
tions, especially  where  there  was  an  open-grate  fire 
in  an  adjoining  room,  with  no  fire  in  F,  the  fire  in 
the  adjoining  room  appeared  to  establish  a  down- 
draft  in  the  flue  D,  and  to  carry  with  it  air  streaming 
from  the  open  end  B  of  the  soil  pipe  A.  The  trouble 
was  corrected  by  moving  the  open  end  of  the  soil 
pipe. 

Figure  7  is  a  curious  example  of  the  possibilities  of 
the  city  dwelling.  It  was  discovered  in  a  block  of 
houses  on  Lexington  Avenue,  New  York.  The  bed- 
room A  in  one  of  the  houses  was  occupied  by  an  unpro- 
tected aristocratic  lady  of  highstrung  and  somewhat 
nervous  temperament.  The  party  wall  B  separated 
her  from  inoffensive  but  unknown  neighbors  in 
the  adjoining  house.  All  went  well  for  a  season. 
Suddenly  the  inoffensive  neighbors  gave  way 
to  midnight  disturbances  that  threatened 
nervous  prostration  to  the  occupant  of  bedroom 
A.  She  was  awakened  from  her  sleep  by  the 
clanking  of  chains,  the  clang  of  machinery,  and 
the  roar  of  the  rush  of  mighty  waters.  At  all 
hours  of  the  night  these  horrors  would  awaken 
her.  She  contemplated  building  a  massive 
sound-proof  masonry  lining  against  the  party 
wall;  and  in  final  desperation  called  for  an  ex- 
amination of  the  wall  to  see  what  could  be 
done.  The  examination  revealed  the  con- 
ditions shown  in  Fig.  7.  The  neighbors'  bath- 
room D  and  closet  C  were  next  to  the  party 
wall  B  in  which  there  were  two  ventilating 
flues  F  and  H;  the  former  connecting  through 
a  register  E  near  the  ceiling  with  the  bedroom 
H,  the  latter  connecting  with  a  register  G  near 
the  ceiling  of  the  closet  C.  The  brick  partition 


K  between  the  flues  had  been  omitted  or  broken  out  by 
the  mason  near  the  registers;  and  direct  sight  and 
sound  and  air  communication  existed  between  the 
two  rooms  near  the  ceiling.  The  flush  tank  for  the 
closet  was  close  to  register  G,  and  might  as  well 
have  been  in  the  bedroom  A  so  far  as  its  powers  of 
disturbance  were  concerned.  The  partition  K 
between  the  flues  was  bricked  up  and  the  trouble 
ceased. 

It  has  been  found  that  certain  features  of  house 
plumbing  are  so  often  defective  under  test  that  they 
should  be  condemned  on  general  inspection  without 
special  trial.  To  this  class  belongs  the  cast-iron 
plate  cover  cleanouts  so  frequently  used  on  iron 
traps.  Figure  8  shows  this  cover.  It  is  a  plate  A 
cast  with  two  lugs  B  B,  arranged  to  grip  flange  C  C, 
on  the  under  side.  Two  ears  D  D  are  cast  on  the 
top  face  to  allow  it  to  be  turned.  The  flange  C  C  is 
wedge- shape,  or  screwed  on  the  under  side  with  two 
vertical  slots  through  which  the  clips  B  B  pass  when 
the  plate  is  lifted  off.  A  bed  of  putty  is  generally 
placed  on  the  top  of  the  flange  C  C  and  the  cover 
pressed  into  it  until  the  clips  B  B  pass  through  the 
vertical  slots  in  the  flange.  The  cover  is  then  turned 
by  means  of  the  ears  D  D,  the  clips  B  B  bear  against 
the  screw  under  face  of  C  C,  and  the  plate  is  drawn 
to  a  firm  seat  in  the  putty.  The  security  of  the 
cover  depends  on  the  putty,  and  at  its  best  will  not 
stand  a  very  mild  pressure  test.  When  the  putty 
dries  out,  the  cleanout  is  very  apt  to  be  found  de- 
fective under  the  smoke  test. 

Figure  9  shows  an  improved,  form  of  cleanout. 
The  trap  is  cast  with  a  vertical  cleanout  hub  A,  into 
which  a  brass  ferrule  B  is  calked  with  oakum  and  lead. 
The  brass  ferrule  has  an  inside  turned  thread,  and 
is  provided  with  a  brass  screw  cover  C  with  a  wrench 
nut  D  cast  on  it.  This  form  of  cover  properly  set 
can  be  made  to  stand  a  severe  water  test. 

CHAPTER  III. 

The  foregoing  chapters  have  been  confined  to  de- 
fects contaminating  the  air  supply  to  the  building  or 
the  air  in  the  building.  The  present  chapter  will 


FIG.   IO. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


213 


'deal  with  the  contamination  of  the  supply  of  house 
water.  Figure  10  represents  an  arrangement  of  the 
water  pipes  which  has  been  frequently  described  and 
condemned  in  print,  but  of  which  many  examples  at 
present  exist  in  New  York  City  as  the  inheritance  of 
ante  health-board  days.  The  fact  that  the  same 
blunder  is  being  repeated  daily  in  towns  and  villages 
away  from  the  larger  cities  is  sufficient  ground  for 
again  calling  attention  to  it.  The  water  supply  pipe 
A  A  has  branches  B,  .C,  N,  etc.  at  various  levels.  B 
supplies  a  kitchen  or  butler's  sink,  where  drinking- 
water  is  drawn  for  the  tank.  C  supplies  and  con- 
nects directly  with  the  bowl  D  of  a  pan  closet  or 
other  form  of  direct  flushing  closet.  A  valve  E  on 
the  pipe  C  is  connected  by  levers  with  the  seat  handle 
F  of  the  closet.  The  size  of  the  water  pipe  A  and  the 
pressure  of  the  water  supply  is  such  that  when  B  is 
open  water  will  not  only  not  flow  to  the  other  branches 
C  and  N,  but  will  draw  the  water  out  of  A  A  and 
draw  air  into  the  branches  C  or  N,  if  either  of  the 
cocks  on  those  branches  is  open.  If  the  closet  G  is 
in  use  and  the  handle  F  is  raised  at  the  time  B  is 
opened  for  drawing  drinking-water,  air  is  drawn 
directly  from  the  bowl  D  of  the  closet  and  enters  the 
water  pipe  A  A  if  it  does  not  mingle  directly  with  the 
water  being  drawn  through  B.  If  there  are  germs 
of  disease  in  the  air  from  the  bowl  D  they  contami" 
nate  the  water  which  flows  through  A  A.  To  avoid 
this  possibility,  small  flush  tanks  are  required  for 
each  closet  or  group  of  closets,  so  arranged  that  this 
suction  of  air  into  the  water  pipe  is  prevented. 

Figure  ii  was  an  arrangement  for  providing  for 
the  overflow  from  a  water  tank  in  a  Madison  Avenue 
dwelling.  It  was  not  uncommon  some  years  ago  and 
may  still  be  found  in  new  work  outside  of  the  larger 
cities.  As  the  street  pressure  was  at  first  insufficient, 
the  tank  E  was  placed  on  the  top  floor  of  the  build- 
ing and  was  used  for  supplying  water  to  all  fixtures 
except  the  kitchen  and  first  floors.  A  pump  in  the 
cellar  was  used  for  filling  it,  and  an  overflow  pipe 
B  was  connected  with  the  tank  and  branched  into  the 
main  soil  pipe  A  of  the  house.  Ihe  overflow  B  was 
trapped  at  C  to  prevent  air  from  the  soil  pipe  finding 
access  to  the  tank  water.  The  trap  was  provided 
with  a  back-air  pipe  D  to  protect  it  against  syphon- 
age.  As  long  as  the  tank  overflowed  at  frequent  in- 
tervals the  trap  C  was  supplied  with  water  and  re- 
mained secure.  But  improvements  in  the  city  water 
supply  were  made  and  increased  the  street  pressure 
so  that  water  would  rise  at  night  to  the  level  of  the 
tank.  The  pump  in  the  cellar  was  done  away  with, 
and  the  tank  was  supplied  directly  from  the  street 
pressure,  with  a  ball  cock  on  the  supply  pipe,  which 
shut  off  the  flow  of  water  when  the  tank  was  full.  In 
connecting  this  ball  cock  the  plumber  had  set  it  so 
that  the  water  was  shut  off  before  the  tank  had  filled 
to  the  level  of  the  overflow  B;  in  fact  it  could  not 
have  been  otherwise  arranged  without  continual 
waste  of  water.  As  a  result  the  trap  C  very  soon 
evaporated  and  the  air  from  the  soil  pipe  had  free 
access  to  the  surface  of  the  water  in  the  tank.  The 
water  was  used,  among  other  things,  for  bedroom 
"basins,  and  a  case  of  diphtheritic  sore  throat  which 
had  occurred  in  the  house  was  thought  to  be  due  to 


the  use  of  the  water  in  brushing  the  teeth.  The 
tank  overflow  was  cut  off  from  communication  with 
the  soil  pipe  and  an  independent  pipe  led  to  the  ex- 
tension roof  and  provided  with  a  flap  valve. 

Figure  12  shows  the  contamination  of  the  water 
supply  which  was  discovered  in  an  isolated  country 
dwelling.  The  water  was  drawn  from  a  cistern  A 
supplied  by  the  rain  falling  on  the  roof.  Under  the 
pump  B,  which  stood  on  the  back  piazza  close  to  the 
kitchen  door,  there  was  a  sink  or  hopper  C  to  catch 
the  drip  from  the  pump.  The  hopper  was  connected 
with  some  lengths  of  clay  pipe  leading  to  a  trough 
and  ultimately  into  a  cesspool.  It  was  found  that  the 
hopper,  being  convenient  to  the  kitchen  door,  had 
been  used  to  receive  much  of  the  liquid  waste  from 
the  kitchen  and  from  floor  washings.  The  connection 
of  the  hopper  and  the  clay  pipe  and  the  pipe  joints 
were  found  defective,  as  was  also  the  brickwork  of 
the  dome  of  the  cistern.  As  a  result  much  of  the 
waste  water  poured  into  the  hopper  found  its  way 
into  the  cistern,  which  in  time  became  so  foul  that  it 
was  very  offensive  and  was  abandoned.  Before  this 
was  arrived  at  two  cases  of  diphtheria  had  developed 
in  the  house. 


FIG.  13. 


FIG.   II. 


Figure  13  shows  a  very  common  blunder,  found  in 
new  work  as  well  as  in  old.  The  hot-water  boiler  A 
in  the  kitchen  is  almost  always  provided  with  a 
"  sediment  pipe  "  B  B,  for  blowing  out  the  sediment 
which  in  time  collects  in  the  bottom  of  the  boiler. 
This  pipe  is  controlled  by  a  stop-cock  C,  and  to  pro- 
vide a  means  of  disposing  of  the  water  when  the 
boiler  is  being  blown  off,  the  sediment  pipe  B  is  con- 
nected with  the  waste  pipe  D  from  the  kitchen  sink 
F.  This  connection  is  frequently  made  below  the 
trap  E  of  the  sink.  The  danger  lies  in  the  fact  that 
when  the  house  is  closed  for  any  length  of  time  it  is  • 
very  common  for  the  plumber  to  turn  off  the  water 
from  the  house  and  to  empty  all  the  pipes,  as  well  as 
to  draw  off  the  water  in  the  boiler  through  the  sedi- 
ment pipe  B,  and  to  leave  the  stop-cock  C  open.  In 
this  case  air  from  the  drains  enters  the  boiler  A 
through  B  B,  and  from  the  boiler  connects  with  all 
of  the  water.pipes  in  the  house.  When  the  water 4s 
again  turned  on  it  receives  any  contamination  which 
the  drain  air  may  have  lodged  in  the  pipes  or  boiler. 
Two  cases  of  typhoid  fever  followed  the  occupancy 
of  a  house  which  had  been  left,  in  the  condition  noted 
for  a  few  months.  The  sediment  pipe  should  be  ar- 
ranged to  have  a  free  discharge  into  a  trapped  fixture, 
or  to  be  emptied  through  a  hose  temporarily  laid  to  a 
yard  drain. 


214 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


PRINCIPLES  TO    BE    OBSERVED   IN   PLAN- 
NING  AND    SPECIFYING    PLUMBING 
FOR  A   COUNTRY  HOUSE. 

[BY  ALBERT  L.   WEBSTER     CIVIL    AND  SANITARY   ENGINEER, 

NEW  YORK ] 

(PUBLISHED   IN    1894  ) 

DRAIN,    SOIL,    AND   VENT   PIPES. 

FOR  drains,  waste,  soil,  and  vent  pipes  use  "extra 
heavy"  factory-tested  cast-iron  pipe.*  Standard 
cast-iron  pipe,  which  is  very  frequently  used,  is  too 
light  to  permit  of  the  joints  being  securely  calked; 
in  addition  to  which  the  metal  in  the  body  of  the 
pipe  is  too  scant,  and  as  the  core  is  frequently  eccen- 
tric in  casting,  the  pipe  is  often  very  thin  in  spots, 
and  blowholes  are  trequent.  As  many  as  a  dozen  of 
such  blowholes  have  been  found  in  a  single  length 
of  pipe  under  test. 

The  iron  pipe,  which  extends  at  least  5  feet  out- 
side of  the  foundation  wall,^should  be  thrust  well 
into  the  earthenware  drain,  with  which  it  may  con- 
nect outside,  and  a  full  Portland  cement  joint  be 
made  between  the  earthenware  and  iron.  The  iron 
drain,  where  it  passes  through  the  foundation  wall, 
should  be  protected  by  an  iron  sleeve,  or  the  wall 
should  be  arched  over  the  pipe  to  prevent  breaking 
the  pipe  in  case  the  wall  settles.  The  spaces  about 
the  pipe  may  be  packed  with  mineral  wool.  The 
running  trap,  with  brass  screw-cover  cleanout,  should 
be  placed  just  inside  of  the  house  wall.  The  outlet 
of  the  trap  should  be  slightly  lower  than  the  inlet, 
and  to  effect  this  the  trap  maybe  made  up  of  fittings 
as  shown,  or  a  trap  of  this  pattern  which  is  found  in 
the  market  may  be  used.  Just  back  of  the  trap 
insert  a  4-inch  fresh-air  inlet  extending  outside  of 
the  house  and  opening  above  the  ground  not  less 
than  20  feet  from  windows,  and  well  removed  from 
the  cold-air  inlet  to  the  furnace.  The  fresh-air  inlet 
should  be  finished  with  a  quarter-bend  and  wire  cage 
or  grating,  allowing  a  free  inlet  for  air.  The  open- 
ing should  be  1 8  inches  above  the  ground,  or  enough 
to  prevent  choking  with  snow. 

Main  drain  inside  of  the  house  should  follow  along 
the  foundation  wall  when  practicable  or  be  supported 
on  brick  piers  to  prevent  settlement.  If  below  the 
floor  it  should  be  laid  on  a  3-inch  bed  of  concrete  in  a 
brick  trench  with  stone  covers.  If  it  is  necessary  to 
bury  the  pipe,  it  should  not  be  covered  until  after 
the  rough  work  has  been  tested  with  water  pressure 
and  the  pipe  to  be  buried  has  been  tar-coated.  A 
brass  screw-cover  cleanout  should  be  left  at  the 
upper  end,  and  if  the  pipe  is  buried,  a  pocket  should 
be  left  in  the  cellar  floors  through  which  a  wire  or 
cleaning  rods  may  be  worked  into  the  pipe  to  remove 
stoppages.  The  vertical  run  of  pipes  should  be 
arranged  to  connect  with  the  horizontal  drain  with 
Y  branches  and  one-eighth  bends,  and  should  rise 
true  to  a  plumb  well  above  the  roof.  Avoid,  if  pos- 
sible, offsets  in  vertical  pipes,  especially  in  vent  and 
back-air  pipes.  If  offsets  cannot  be  avoided,  they 
must  be  arranged  to  receive  the  wash  from  some 

*The  use  of  screw-joint  wrought-iron  pipe  will  not  b« 
discussed  at  present.  The  additional  expense  of  wrought- 
iron  work  generally  excludes  its  use  in  inexpensive  small 
buildings. 


fixture.  This  is  to  prevent  the  accumulation  of  rust 
scales  which  drop  from  the  inside  of  the  pipe  and 
accumulate  at  bends,  and  in  time  cause  stoppages. 
The  base  of  all  back-air  columns  must  drop  directly 
into  a  soil  or  waste  pipe  to  avoid  rust  accumulation. 
See  on  the  drawing  this  arrangement  at  the  base  of 
t-he  main  back-air  and  kitchen-sink  back-air  pipes. 

The  base  of  all  vertical  columns  should  be  firmly 
supported  on  masonry  piers  to  take  the  entire  weight 
of  the  column.  Pipe  hooks  should  be  used  to  keep 
the  columns  in  vertical  line  only,  and  should  not 
support  the  pipe,  as  any  settlement  in  the  lower  part 
of  the  column  would  pull  the  joints  apart  if  the  upper 
part  of  the  column  is  secured.  The  weight  of  the 
soil  and  back-air  columns  shown  in  the  drawing  is 
about  800  pounds.  Where  the  vertical  pipes  pass 
through  the  roof  a  water- tighc,  flexible  roof  flashing 
should  be  calked  into  the  hub  above  the  roof,  turned 
over  and  flashed  under  the  roof  covering.  This 
admits  movement  of  the  pipes  due  to  changes  of  tem- 
perature without  breaking  the  roof  joints. 

Y  branches  should  be  left  in  the  drain  and  soil 
pipe  to  receive  drainage  from  all  fixtures.  The 
house  should  be  planned  and  the  fixtures  arranged  to 
connect  them  as  close  as  possible  about  the  vertical 
column  of  soil  pipe. 

The  branches  for  all  fixtures  should  be  extended  in 
iron  as  close  to  fixtures  as  possible,  and  kept  as  much 
»s  possible  above  floors,  and  open  to  inspection. 

TRAPPING. 

All  fixtures  should  be  trapped  with  bend  traps,  and 
all  traps  should  be  back  aired  from  the  crown  of  the 
trap.  If  brass  traps  are  used,  they  should  have 
ground  brass  couplings  only.  Traps  with  rubber  or 
leather  washers  should  not  be  used;  they  cannot  be 
made  permanently  secure.  Earthenware  closets 
and  other  fixtures  having  the  trap  formed  in  the 
earthenware  should  have  short  lead  bends  connecting 
with  the  iron  pipe.  This  admits  of  settlement  in  the 
floors  without  breaking  tbe  earthenware. 

Connect  lead  with  iron  pipes  by  a  wiped  solder 
joint  and  brass  ferrule  calked  into  the  hub  of  iron 
pipe. 

All  back-air  branches  from  traps  should  be  con- 
nected into  T  or  reversed  Y  branches  on  the  back-air 
column;  these  branches  to  be  placed  above  the 
fixtures  from  the  trap  of  which  the  back-air  branch 
is  taken.  This  prevents  the  fixture  discharging 
through  the  back-air  pipe  if  the  waste  pipe  becomes 
choked. 

All  lead  or  metal  traps  should  have  a  brass  screw 
cleanout  below  the  seal  of  the  trap. 

After  all  the  iron-work  is  completed,  and  traps  and 
back-air  connections  and  bends  have  been  connected, 
all  of  the  traps  and  bends  and  other  openings  must 
be  securely  sealed  and  the  main  drain  and  fresh-air 
inlet  plugged  outside  olt  the  house.  The  entire  sys- 
tem of  pipes  and  branches  should  then  be  filled  with 
water  to  the  level  of  the  top  of  the  pipes  above  the 
roof.  The  entire  system  of  pipes  should  then  be 
carefully  inspected  while  under  this  water  test,  and 
any  leaks  discovered  in  the  joints  must  be  made 
tight  by  calking  the  lead  home.  Any  split  hubs  and 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING    PRACTICE. 


215 


pipes  or  fittings  with  sandholes  must  be  broken  out 
and  replaced  by  sound  material,  and  the  test  repeated 
until  the  entire  work  stands  the  test  without  show- 
ing leaks  of  any  description.  The  fixtures  may  then 
be  permanently  set  and  connected.  On  final  com- 
pletion of  the  work,  and  after  all  traps  have  been 
filled  with  water,  a  smoke  test  or  peppermint  test 
should  be  applied  to  the  drains  to  test  the  connec- 
tions not  subjected  to  the  water  test.  This  applies 


All  pipes  should  be  run  as  direct  as  possible  and 
the  fixtures  planned  to  lie  close  to  the  main  pipes  and 
avoid  long  branch  connections. 

All  pipes  and  fixtures  should  be  left  as  much  ex- 
posed as  possible  and  with  the  least  amount  of 
joiner-work  and  boxing,  and  with  the  least  amount 
of  absorbent  material  about  them.  Fixtures  should 
be  located  so  as  to  avoid  running  water-supply  pipes 
on  outside  walls  where  they  are  exposed  to  frost. 


ead  Joint- 


SCALE  OF  rrer 

5 


10 


•   SECTION 


T^ 

we 

.ffl-.i 

\ 

^  — 

//Tt:::.' 

f 

Wash 

Bos 

n 

r^n 

Both 

rub 

SECOND  STORY 


*2  " 

FIR: 

"^^3    | 

iT  STORY 

SmH 

WMi 

Wash  Tubs 


^ 


PRINCIPLES   TO   BE  OBSERVED   IN    PLANNING  AND   SPECIFYING  PLUMBING  FOR   A  COUNTRY   HOUSE. 


especially  to  connections  with  earthenware  fixtures 
and  brass  trap  connections. 

The  joints  in  the  iron  pipe  and  fittings  should  be 
made  by  firmly  calking  a  roll  of  oakum  into  the  joint 
between  the  hub  and  spigot,  care  being  taken  to 
p-event  the  oakum  entering  the  bore  of  the  pipe. 
The  joint  must  then  be  run  full  with  pure  soft  lead, 
which  must  be  firmly  calked  home  when  co.d.  Tbe 
joint  must  be  level  with  the  face  of  the  hub  when 
finished. 


RAIN   LEADERS. 

If  the  rain  leader  from  the  roof  is  carried  inside  of 
the  house  it  should  be  of  the  same  material  as  the 
soil  pipe  and  should  have  an  iron  trap  and  brass 
cleanout  on  the  house  side  close  to  the  drain. 

If  outside  leaders  are  used  they  should  connect 
with  an  accessible  iron  trap  inside  of  the  house  wall. 
See  that  leader  lines  are  secure  against  settlement 
and  leakage,  as  damp  foundations  and  cellars  fre- 
quently result  from  defective  underground  leaders. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


CLEANOUTS. 

Cleanoutsfor  all  large  traps  should  be  on  the  house 
side  of  the  trap  This  gives  added  protection  to  the 
trap  in  case  the  covers  are  not  made  secure  at  any 
time. 

YARD,    AREA,    AND    COURT    DRAINS. 

All  yard,  area,  and  court  drains  may  connect  with 
the  rain  leader  branch  inside  of  the  leader  trap. 
When  pipes  pass  through  floors  the  opening  should 
be  sealed  to  prevent  air  and  odors  from  the  cellar  and 
lower  floors  passing  to  the  floors  above. 

SAFE   WASTES. 

Safe  wastes,  if  provided,  should  discharge  over  a 
sink  in  the  cellar  or  upon  the  cellar  floor.  In  no  case 
should  they  connect  directly  with  the  drains. 

EARTHENWARE   DRAINS. 

Earthenware  drains  outside  of  the  house  should  be 
laid  with  a  fall  of  not  less  than  i  foot  in  60  feet.  If 
the  line  is  a  long  one  sealed  T's  or  cleanouts  should 
be  left,  to  permit  the  removal  of  obstructions  without 
breaking  the  pipe.  Earthenware  pipe  should  be  laid 
true  to  line  and  grade  and  be  well  bedded  to  pre- 
vent settling.  Pockets  should  be  cut  out  in  the 
trench  for  the  hubs  so  that  the  pipe  shall  bear  along 
its  entire  length  and  not  rest  on  the  hubs  only. 
Pipes  should  be  centered  and  the  joints  made  full 
with  Rosendale  or  Portland  cement  mortar,  each 
joint  to  be  swabbed  out  to  remove  cement  from  the 
inside  of  the  pipe.  In  a  wet  trench  during  construc- 
tion keep  trench  water  down  by  outside  draining  or 
pumping  and  avoid  draining  through  the  pipe  laid, 
as  mud  will  deposit  in  the  pipe  and  cannot  be  easily 
removed. 

Seal  the  open  end  of  the  drain  when  the  work  is 
left  standing  during  construction. 

See  that  stones  are  not  thrown  against  the  pipe  or 
come  within  18  inches  of  it  in  backfilling  the  trench. 
If  the  trench  is  through  rock,  cut  deep  enough  to 
allow  4  inches  below  the  hubs  and  fill  in  with  a  bed 
of  earth  or  sand  for  the  pipe  to  lie  on.  If  the  outside 
house  drain  is  a  long  one,  place  one  or  more  ventila- 
tion pipes  on  the  line,  opening  18  inches  or  more 
above  the  ground  and  well  removed  from  the  house 
or  points  where  the  escape  of  foul  air  from  the  drain 
would  be  objectionable. 

If  the  trench  is  through  soft  ground  or  quicksand, 
prepare  a  bed  of  broken  stones  or  tarred  planks  to 
prevent  settlement  of  the  pipes  and  pack  well  under 
the  pipes  in  backfilling. 

GROUND-WATER   DRAIN   TRAP.   ' 

If  the  cellar  is  wet  and  foundation  or  subsoil  drains 
are  needed,  the  discharge  from  them  must  not  be 
direct  to  the  house  drains,  but  must  be  into  a  tight 
masonry  or  iron  box  below  the  cellar  floor,  with  a 
cover  in  the  floor,  and  with  a  securely  trapped  dis- 
charge connecting  with  the  main  drain.  The  box 
must  be  arranged  to  receive  an  infallible  supply  of 
water  from  a  draw  cock  or  fixture  flush  pipe,  or  must 
be  provided  with  ball  cock  connected  to  the  water 
supply.  If  direct  connection  is  made  with  the  house 
drain  there  is  danger  of  stoppage  in  the  house  drain, 
causing  the  back-floodage  of  sewage  into  the  subsoil 


and  foundation  drains,  and  consequent  saturation  of 
the  earth  with  foul  water  * 

WATER-CLOSETS. 

Water-closets  should  be  of  earthenware  with  brass 
floor  flanges  and  bolted  connections  with  white  lead 
and  putty  or  other  secure  joints.  Avoid  rubber  or 
other  perishable  washers.  Brass  back-air  connections 
should  be  cemented  in  earthenware  of  closet  and 
located  so  as  to  avoid  receiving  the  splash  from  the 
closet  into  the  back-air  opening.  When  the  closet  is 
flushed  the  back-air  coupling  should  be  of  ground 
brass.  Avoid  washer  connections.  Each  closet 
should  have  an  independent  flush  tank  supplied  by 
ball  cock  from  the  water  supply  pipe.  No  closet 
should  have  a  direct  flush  from  the  water  pipes. 
Avoid  closets  with  valves  or  concealed  fouling  space; 
and  leave  the  closet,  as  well  as  other  fixtures,  as 
much  exposed  as  possible,  and  free  from  unnecessary 
joiner-work. 

BATHTUBS. 

Bathtubs  should  be  exposed,  with  accessible  trap 
and  with  standing  overflow,  or  overflow  which  can 
be  readily  cleaned.  Baths  may  be  of  wood  or  in- 
durated fiber  lined  with  tinned  and  planished  copper, 
steel-shell  lined  with  tinned  and  planished  copper, 
enameled  iron  or  porcelain,  the  selection  depending 
upon  the  available  money  to  spend  and  the  preference 
of  the  user.  Avoid  all  unnecessary  woodwork. 
BASINS. 

Basins  should  have  an  exposed  overflow  or  stand- 
ing overflow,  which  can  be  readily  cleaned.  Traps 
should  be  as  close  to  outlet  as  possible. 

SINKS. 

Kitchen  and  butlers'  sinks  receive  large  amounts 
of  grease,  and  the  wastes  from  them  are  liable  to 
stoppage.  Provision  should  be  made  for  the  ready 
cleaning  of  these  wastes.  The  sinks  should  have  the 
least  possible  amount  of  absorbent  material,  and,  if 
possible,  should  be  set  free  from  walls  to  admit  of 
cleaning  all  around.  Iron,  copper  stone,  and  earthen- 
ware are  the  materials  employed.  Avoid  concealed 
overflows.  Place  the  trap  close  to  the  sink. 

GREASE   TRAPS. 

Where  much  dishwashing  is  done,  or  where  the 
discharge  from  the  sink  has  some  distance  to  go  to 
reach  the  sewer  or  cesspool,  one  of  the  approved 
forms  of  grease  trap  should  be  used  to  intercept  the 
grease.  These  can  only  be  relied  upon  to  remove 
part  of  the  grease,  and  they  need  careful  attention 
on  the  part  of  the  servants  to  render  them  of  service. 

SLOPSINKS. 

Slopsinks  should  have  flushing  rims  with  a  flush 
tank  supplied  by  a  ball-cock.  They  should  be  free 
all  round  and  be  set  with  marble  or  slate  floor  and 
wall  slabs,  or  metal  splashboards. 

LAUNDRY   TUBS. 

Lanndry  tubs  should  be  of  porcelain,  earthenware, 
soapstone,  slate,  cement,  or  other  non-absorbent 

*  Good  suggestions  for  Rround-wat»r  drain  trap  and  con- 
nection with  newer  is  shown  in  "House  Driinaee  «rd 
Plumb  ne  Problems,"  pp.  45  and  47,  and  reorinted  from  THK 
ENGINEERING  RECORD,  priorto  1887  The  Sanitary  Engineer 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


217 


material.  Avoid  wooden  tubs  and  wooden  or  other 
covers.  All  fixtures  should  be  placed  so  as  to  receive 
direct  light  and  outside  ventilation.  Avoid  set 
fixtures  in  bedrooms  and  living-rooms  or  unventilated 
and  ill-lighted  closets  adjoining  them,  and  do  away 
with  fixtures  not  needed  for  constant  or  frequent  use. 
The  water  seal  evaporates  from  the  traps  of  fixtures 
not  frequently  used,  and  leaves  direct  outlets  for 
drain  air. 

WATER    SUPPLY. 

The  main  water  supply  to  the  building  should  be 
laid  below  the  frost  line  and  should  have  a  stop  valve 
inside  of  the  wall  where  the  pipe  enters  the  house. 
Care  should  be  taken  to  see  that  there  are  no  leaks 
in  the  buried  pipe,  as  the  cause  of  wet  cellar  walls 
has  sometimes  been  traced  to  defects  in  the  buried 
supply  pipe.  The  pipes  should  be  arranged  to  drain 
completely  when  water  is  shut  off.  Lead  or  galvan- 
ized wrought-iron  pipe  is  preferred  for  general  use, 
.  dependent  on  the  character  of  the  water  used.  For 
country  houses  used  only  a  portion  of  the  year,  from 
which  the  water  would  be  turned  off,  lead  should  be 
used,  as  iron  pipes  rust  quickly  when  empty  of  water. 


Filters  may  be  placed  on  the  supply  main  in  the 
cellar  i£  desired.  They  will  remove  sediment  and 
screen  the  water.  They  do  not  remove  salts  in  solu- 
tion or  bacteria.  If  employed,  filters  must  be  ar- 
ranged to  allow  of  ready  cleaning  and  washing.  The 
waste  discharge  must  not  connect  directly  with  the 
house  drains.  Direct  supply  branches  should  be  laid 
to  the  kitchen  and  butlers'  sinks  and  fixtures  where 
drinking-water  will  be  drawn. 

If  the  water  pressure  is  so  strong  as  to  cause  wear 
of  the  faucets,  or  so  light  as  to  fail  on  upper  floors,  a 
tinned  copper-lined  or  iron  house  tank  should  be 
placed  in  the  attic  and  supplied  through  a  ball  cock 
or  filled  by  a  pump.  The  tank  should  have  a  large 
overflow,  safe-waste,  and  emptying  pipe,  discharging 
upon  a  roof  or  over  a  fixture  with  a  large  outlet.  The 
overflow  must  not  connect  with  the  drain  pipes. 
Provide  a  flap  valve  on  the  end  of  overflow  pipe. 
The  tank  should  be  cleaned  frequently.  Provide  a 
dust-proof  cover  with  ventilation  opening  protected 
by  wire  gauze  and  a  cloth  screen. 

DIRECT   OR   MAIN   TANK   SUPPLY. 

The  direct  or  main  tank  supply  should  have 
branches  to  all  fixtures  and  to  hot-water  boiler.  The 
boiler  may  be  of  galvanized  wrought  iron  or  tinned 
copper.  The  boiler  should  have  a  valved  sediment 
pipe  for  emptying,  and  this  should  be  opened  at  in- 
tervals to  remove  the  sediment  deposited  in  the 
boiler.  The  sediment  pipe  must  not  connect  directly 
with  the  house  drains 

All  branch  lines  must  drain  completely.  The  hot- 
water  riser,  if  the  water  service  is  from  a  tank,  must 
have  an  expansion  pipe  extend  over  the  top  of  the 
tank  and  raised  well  above  the  tank. 


Branches  should  have  a  stop-cock,  and  wastes  and 
runs  of  pipes  should  have  brass  unions  to  admit  of 
ready  repair. 


PARIS  BATHCARTS. 

(PUBLISHED  IN    1891.) 

AN  American  familiar  with  the  fact  that  every 
house  or  apartment,  renting  as  low  as  $300  per  year 
in  the  United  States,  has  its  own  bathtub  with  hot 
and  cold  water  supply  and  waste  to  remove  the  con- 
tents of  the  tub,  is  amused  if  not  amazed  when,  on  a 
visit  to  Paris,  he  gets  an  idea  of  the  custom  still  pre- 
vailing in  that  metropolis  of  luxury  and  elegant 
buildings. 

The  large  hotels,  some  very  costly  private  mansions 
and  apartments,  and  the  public  bathhouses  have 
their  bathrooms  as  is  the  custom  in  the  United  States, 
though  the  French  bathroom  usually  is  much  larger 
and  is  elegantly  furnished  with  rugs,  lounges,  and 
dressing  tables,  etc.,  the  idea  being  that  if  one  takes 
a  bath  one  must  lie  down  and  take  a  nap  after  it. 

People  living  in  apartments  costing  as  high  as  a 
thousand  dollars  a  year,  and  in  the  new  quarter  of 
Paris  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Champs  Elysees, 
when  they  wish  to  bathe,  other  than  take  a  sponge 
bath  in  a  small,  portable  tub,  either  go  to  the  public 
bathing  establishments  or  send  thence  to  have  a  bath 
brought  to  their  apartments.  Sunday  morning  one 
sees  a  strange-looking,  two-wheeled  cart,  like  a  very 
high  dog-cart,  on  which  there  is  a  framework  built 
over  the  wheels.  This  framework  can  hold  three 
bathtubs.  They  are  made  entirely  of  copper  and  are 
about  5  feet  long,  about  20  inches  deep  at  the  end, 
and  18  inches  on  the  side.  The  driver  of  this  vehicle 
is  perched  up  high  on  a  small  seat  in  front,  is  bare- 
headed and  wears  a  blouse.  On  each  side  of  him  an 
iron  ring  encircles  a  copper-covered  vessel  holding 
about  three  gallons  of  hot  water,  which  rests  on  a 
little  shelf.  He  also  carries  a  supply  of  dry  towels 
and  sheets.  The  bathing  establishments  have  these 
carts,  and  when  a  patron  sends  word  that  he  wants  a 
hot  bath  at  a  certain  hour,  the  bath  is  put  on  the 
cart,  the  kettle  filled  with  hot  water,  and  the  cart 
with  its  strange  load  is  rapidly  driven  to  the  building 
in  which  the  apartment  is.  The  driver  carries  the 
bathtub,  as  an  Adirondack  guide  carries  a  canoe,  on 
his  head  and  shoulders  from  the  first  to  the  fifth 
floor,  as  the  case  may  be,  and  after  spreading  a  sheet 
to  protect  the  carpet  he  spreads  also  a  clean  sheet  in- 
side of  the  tub,  so  that  the  bather  does  not  touch  the 
metal.  Then  he  carries  up  the  kettle  of  hot  water 
which  he  has  brought  from  the  main  establishment. 
The  necessary  cold  water  he  gets  on  the  premises, 
either  on  the  same  floor  with  the  apartment  or  in  the 
court  yard.  When  the  bather  has  had  his  bath  the 
attendant  removes  the  soiled  water  by  dipping  it  out, 
wipes  out  the  tub  and  carries  it  with  his  kettles  and 
soiled  towels  downstairs  to  his  cart.  The  charge  for 
all  this  is  about  60  cents,  with  the  usual  additional 
tip  to  the  man. 


218 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


BATHTUBS  AND  BATHCARTS  IN  PARIS. 

(PUBLISHED   IN    i8gi.) 

H.  D.  WOOD,  C.  E  ,  of  Boston,  who  resided  at 
Paris  a  number  of  years,  in  referring  to  the  foregoing 
article  on  Paris  bathcarts,  sends  further  information 
as  follows: 

"  There  were  three  good  ordinary  bathhouses 
within  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  where  I  lived,  each  hav- 
ing from  30  to  50  bathrooms.  These  averaged  about 
6xio  feet,  and  the  furniture  consisted  of  two  chairs, 
a  looking-glass,  two  shelves,  with  a  comb  and  brush, 
a  shoe  horn,  a  pair  of  slippers,  a  decanter  of  water, 
and  a  glass,  a  bootjack,  coathooks,  and  a  square  of 
cork  14x18  inches  to  step  out  on.  The  charge  for  a 
plain  hot  bath  was  16  cents,  with  a  discount  if  buy- 
ing six  tickets  at  once.  The  attendant  furnished  hot 
towels  at  the  rate  of  2  cents  apiece,  when  rung  for. 
Soap  was  extra,  as  in  all  continental  Europe.  A 
printed  schedule  of  extras  was  hung  in  each  room, 
including  soaps,  bran  baths,  almond-cream  baths,  etc  , 
hair  wash,  services  of  barber  or  pedicure,  also  a  list 
of  cordials,  lunches  (hot  steaks,  chops,  etc.),  all  fur- 
nished by  the  attendant.  Besides  the  plain  bath, 
there  was  the  complete  bath,  in  a  larger  room,  with  a 
sofa,  lounge,  a  sheet  spread  inside  of  the  tub,  so  that 
the  body  does  not  touch  the  metal,  and  a  towel  over 
the  cork  mat.  Price,  about  20  cents.  Also  one  or 
two  rooms  for  shower,  hose,  etc.,  baths;  and  six  or 
eight  rooms  with  iron  or  porcelain-lined  tubs,  for  med- 
icated baths.  These  establishments  furnish  Seine 
River  water.  In  the  cheaper  districts,  the  bath- 
houses are  supplied  with  canal  water,  which  is  not  of 
so  good  a  quality,  nor  as  clean 

"  The  public  washhouses,  sort  of  charitable  estab- 
lishments, where,  for  a  few  cents  (nominal  price)  a 
woman  may  have  the  use  of  washtubs  and  hot  and 
cold  water  for  doing  her  laundry,  and  also  the  use  of 
a  drying  closet,  usually  have  a  few  bathrooms  at- 
tached. These  are  more  especially  for  the  use  of  the 
poorer  class  (here  a  tramp  may  get  a  bath,  and  have 
his  clothes  washed  and  dried,  while  he  waits).  The 
object  of  the  washhouse  is  to  help  those  living  in  one 
room,  as  the  police  regulations  forbid  any  laundry 
work  done  where  a  person  has  but  one  room  to  live 
in. 

"  The  shape  and  form  of  the  Paris  bathtub  is  such 
that  when  sitting  back  at  the  head  of  the  tub  one 
has  water  up  to  the  shoulders.  That  is  the  way  the 
bath  is  prepared  for  the  customer.  If  sufficient  water 
were  used  here  to  get  the  "same  depth  I  fear  the 
boiler  in  the  $300  house  you  speak  of  would  give  out 
often,  and  even  in  the  larger  house,  but  I  may  be 
prejudiced. 

"  One  appliance  used  in  the  bathhouses  is  a  port- 
able brass  tube  about  the  size  of  an  ordinary  stand- 
ing overflow  plug,  which  the  attendant  hooks  on  to 
the  hot-water  faucet  when  he  fills  the  bath.  The 
cold  water  being  turned  in  at  the  same  time,  the  hot 
water  is  delivered  under,  the  body  of  warm  water 
mixes  quicker,  and  no  steam  is  thrown  out  in  the 
room. 

"  The  Paris  bathtub  is  somewhat  larger  than  those 
in  common  use  here;  they  are  generally  of  planished 


copper,  thick  enough  to  stand  common  use  without 
any  wooden  frame  or  boxing.  The  portable  ones  are 
on  castors,  and  the  stationary  ones  are  set  upon 
blocks  an  inch  or  two  from  the  floor,  and  the  outlet 
sets  over  a  floor  catch  basin  connected  with  the 
drain  pipe,  so  that  a  tub  can  at  any  time  be  removed 
for  tinning  or  repairs  without  affecting  the  plumbing; 
all  the  water  pipes  and  faucets  being  made  fast  to 
the  wall  and  located  at  the  middle  of  the  side  of  the 
tub.  There  are  several  shapes  and  styles,  weighing 
from  70  to  88  pounds,  holding  from  75  to  120  gallons. 
In  estimating  for  water- works,  or  for  bathhouse 
tanks,  a  bath  is  called  60  gallons. 

"  In  the  more  thickly  built-up  sections,  where  bath- 
houses are  numerous,  the  carts  for  portable  baths  are 
drawn  by  the  attendant,  and  carry  two  bathtubs.  A 
horse  is  used  in  the  less  populous  districts.  In  either 
case  the  cart  consists  of  a  barrel  set  on  a  two-wheeled 
frame,  on  top  of  which  are  placed  the  tubs.  On  a 
shelf  in  front  are  two  copper  pails  with  large  cork 
floats  for  carrying  the  water  upstairs,  the  pails  being 
hung  on  the  ends  of  a  stick  slung  across  the  shoulder 
of  the  attendant.  Usually  on  the  cart  each  pail  con- 
tains a  closed  doubled-lined  copper  cylinder  in  which 
the  towels  are  carried  and  kept  warm  by  a  hot-water 
lining.  The  barrel  is  filled  with  hot  water  at  the 
bathhouse  tank  before  starting,  and  this  water  is 
carried  up  to  the  apartment  with  the  bath,  and  cold 
water  taken  either  at  the  kitchen  sink  or  taken  up 
from  the  faucet  in  the  yard.  When  all  the  baths  on 
the  team  have  been  delivered  the  attendant,  before 
starting  for  home,  lets  off  the  remainder  of  hot  water 
from  the  barrel  into  the  gutter,  and  frequently  small 
shopkeepers  help  themselves  to  a  free  supply  of  hot 
water.  Thus  the  attendant  lightens  his  return  load, 
as  it  would  be  of  no  use  taking  the  water  back  to  the 
establishment." 


ADJUSTABLE  CONTROL  OF  CHURCH    G    S- 
LIGHTS. 

(PUBLISHED  IN   l8ga.) 

IN  many  churches,  especially  cathedrals  and  city 
churches,  it  is  desirable  to  quickly  and  definitely  vary 
the  intensity  of  the  gaslight  in  different  sections  of 
the  building  at  different  periods  of  the  service,  This 
regulation  should  be  done  easily  and  certainly  from 
one  place,  and  should  avoid  danger  of  entirely  ex- 
tinguishing the  lights,  or  any  lack  of  uniformity.  An 
arrangement  devised  to  accomplish  this  has  just  been 
applied  to  the  gas  system  in  the  Church  of  the  Holy 
Trinity,  Forty-second  Street,  New  York  City,  and 
operates  as  shown  in  the  accompanying  illustrations. 

The  4-inch  gas  main  A  (Fig.  i)  terminates  on  the 
floor  of  the  auditorium  in  a  corner  near  the  rear,  and 
into  it  are  tapped  the  i^-inch  branches  B  B,  etc., 
which  each  supply  all  the  group  of  lights  in  a  partic- 
ular part  of  the  edifice,  as  the  nave,  the  transept,  the 
chancel,  the  right  gallery,  left  gallery,  etc.  Each  of 
these  branches  is  controlled  by  an  ordinary  gate 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


219 


valve  C,  operated  by  a  hand  lever  D,  so  that  the  sex- 
ton may  from  this  point  graduate  any  set  of  lights  at 
will.  Figure  2  is  a  side  view  of  a  valve  C  showing 
an  attachment  E  intended  to  fix  the  opening  of  the 
gate  at  one  or  more  exact  positions,  thus  producing 
several  unvarying  intensities  of  illumination,  or  to 
allow  it  to  be  entirely  closed  when  necessary.  A 
guide  bar  F  is  screwed  rigidly  to  the  valve  and  has 
one  or  more  rounded  seats  G,  which  engage  with  a 
spur  K.  attached  to  the  adjustable  bar  H,  which  is 
fixed  at  I  to  any  part  of  the  valve  lever  and  slides 
over  bar  F.  When  handle  D  is  depressed  from  D1 
(the  full  open  position),  spur  K  slides  easily  along 
down  on  F  until,  in  the  position  shown,  it  rides  over 
into  the  seat  G,  which  is  curved  so  as  to  offer  some 


resistance  to  slipping.  The  lever  is  thus  held  at  D 
as  shown,  unless  the  force  is  noticeably  increased  to 
push  it  down,  when  K  leaves  its  seat  G  with  a  dis- 
tinct click,  and  maybe  pushed  successively  into  other 
similar  seats  (not  shown  here),  or  the  handle  D  may 
be  completely  depressed  and  the  lights  shut  off  alto- 
gether. M  is  a  steel  spring  maintaining  spur  K  in 
contact  with  guide  F.  L  is  a  set  screw  for  adjusting 
the  stops  to  any  position  of  the  valve  lever,  and  N  is 
a  set  screw  for  the  direct  adjustment  of  the  gate 
stem.  This  arrangement  has  been  in  operation  for 
several  months,  and  is  considered  convenient  and 
effectual.  It  was  devised  and  made  by  Paul  S. 
Bolger,  New  York,  contractor  for  plumbing  and  gas 
work  in  the  church. 


.  V 


To  Mefer-- 


-!'--:> 

^-  -°-  -O    \ 

JVv/';--  ---'  --         • 
< 


*-^£/vL_j; 


^ ' 

Tt=*=S 


ADJUSTABLE  CONTROL  OF  CHURCH  LIGHTS. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


AN  AUTOMATIC  DUPLEX-CONNECTED 
HOUSE  PUMP. 

(PUBLISHED  IS   1894.) 

IN  the  residence  of  J.  Pierpont  Morgan,  Esq.,  at 
Fifth  Avenue  and  Thirty-ninth  Street,  New  York 
City,  the  extensive  plumbing  system  has  been  in- 
stalled for  years  and  includes  pump  connections  for 
the  water  supply  to  the  lower  floors,  roof  tank,  and 
elevator  service.  The  general  features  of  the  original 
pump  arrangement  are  conventionally  indicated  in 


9o  Rouse 
Tank, 

Ci 

t      ' 

To'Elevdtor  Tarifc 

r\ 

^                                            Bistribulion  Pipe 

B» 

^-Uj 

j-p<                          E                 From  City  Mains 

8.                                "-  

Fig.1 


^SurgeTank 


the  diagram,  Fig.  i,  \\hich  shows  a  hot-air  pump 
connected  up  to  be  supplied  either  from  the  city 
mains  direct  or  from  the  surge  tank  that  receives  the 
water  discharged  from  the  elevator  cylinders,  and  to 
deliver  correspondingly  either  to  the  house  supply 
tank  or  the  elevator  pressure  tank,  both  on  the  roof. 
The  operation  of  this  system,  like  all  other  double 
systems,  requires  accuracy  and  attention  for  the 
valves,  which  must  always  be  correctly  manipulated 
and  individually  changed  whenever  the  pump  service 
is  varied.  To  pump  into  the  house  tank,  valves  B 
and  E  were  opened  and  valves  D  and  F  were  closed. 
To  pump  into  the  elevator  tank  the  oily  water  that. 
had  already  been  used  there,  valves  E  and  B  were 
closed  and  F  and  D  opened.  Valves  D  and  F  were 
to  be  opened  only  when  the  elevator"  tank  was  to  be 
filled. 

As  the  control  of  these  four  valves  developed  upon 
servants  who  were  likely  to  be  careless  or  ignorant 
and  negligent,  and  might  often  be  replaced  by  new- 
comers, there  was  always  danger  of  improper  man- 
ipulation. It  was  found  that  the  surge  tank 
was  sometimes  overflowed  by  city  water,  and  that 
the  dirty  water  from  the  surge  tank  was  at  other 
times  distributed  throughout  the  house.  Check 
valves  C  C,  opening  upwards,  were  accordingly  put 
on  the  tank  pipes,  but  of  course  had  no  effect  except 
to  relieve  the  pump  valves.  Considerable  difficulty 
continued  to  be  felt,  and  Spellman  &  Blair,  of  New 
York  City,  were  employed  to  remedy  it.  They  first 
put  on  a  check  valve  C',  opening  up,  so  as  to  prevent 
water  from  the  city  pipes  overflowing  the  surge  tank 
if  valve  D  should  be  left  open.  But  this  did  not  pre- 
vent the  possibility  of  pumping  from  the  surge  tank 
into  the  house  system.  One  day  when  both  tanks 
had  been  filled  and  the  pump  was  under  full  headway 
the  servant  closed  all  its  valves  and  it  immediately 
burst,  making  a  complete  wreck.  To  prevent  the 
possibility  of  a  repetition  of  this  accident  and  to 
avoid  confusion  with  the  two  systems  of  suction  and 
delivery  it  was  advised  to  use  two  separate  inde- 
pendent pumps.  But  Mr.  Spellman  objected  to  this 
and  devised  an  arrangement  for  automatically  oper- 
ating both  services  with  one  pump  without  danger 


of  mixing  the  water  or  possibility  of  impeding  the 
discharge. 

An  Otis  electric  pump  No.  3  was  put  in  and  fitted 
up  as  shown  in  Fig.  2,  with  its  suction  and  discharge 
pipes  connected  to  a  special  valve  A,  which  consists 
substantially  of  two  three-way  cocks  operated  sim- 
ultaneously by  one  handle  H.  These  cocks  are 
separate  and  independent  except  that  they  are  so 
connected  that  they  must  both  be  operated  together 
by  the  connecting  spindle  S,  which  makes  the  house 
tank  and  city  supply  pipes  register  with  the  pump 
delivery  and  suction  ports,  and  closes  the  surge  tank 
and  elevator  pressure  tank  pipes,  or  -vice  versa. 

Figure  3  shows  the  details  of  the  valve,  which  con- 
sists essentially  of  twin  chambers  C  C,  connected  by 
a  body  B  and  operated  by  a  spindle  S,  which  is  com- 
manded by  a  lever  H.  The  valve  is  entirely  of  brass, 
with  ground  joints  at  G,  capstan -headed  stuffing, 
boxes  D  D,  asbestos  packing  E,  and  holding  rings  Q. 
The  spindle  S  is  -jointed  in  the  middle,  where  it  is 
riveted  to  the  lever  head,  and  it  has  at  each  end  a 
wing  W,  over  which  the  ground  valve  V  slips  freely 
and  is  snugly  seated  by  the  pressure  of  two  spiral 
springs  A  A.  The  pump  suction  and  the  delivery 
pipes  are  screwed  on  at  I  and  J,  and  their  ports  are 


-Delivery  tc  HouseTarik,. 
•Delivery  to  Elevator  TanTt. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


221 


always  open  into  the  chambers,  \vhich  have  discharge 
and  delivery  pipes  screwed  an  at  K  K  K  K  with  their 
ports  P  P'  commanded  by  valves  V.  The  length  .M 
of  the  face  of  the  valve  V  is  made  exactly  equal  to 
the  distance  N  between  ports  P  and  P  ,  so  that,  in 
changing  from  one  system  to  the  other,  when  the 
valve  V  is  revolved  to  position  V  port  P  begins  to 
open  as  soon  and  as  fast  as  port  P'  closes  and  there 
is  always  a  full  area  of  discharge  ports  open  under 
all  possible  circumstances.  When  lever  H  is  hori- 
zontal, as  shown  in  Fig.  2,  the  pump  is  connected  to 
city  main  and  house  tank.  When  it  is  pulled  down 
to  H'  the  pump  is  connected  to  the  surge  tank  and 
the  elevator  tank.  As  the  house  tank  requires  filling 
two  or  three  times  a  day  and  the  elevator  tank  only 
about  once  a  week,  the  valve  is  left  set  open  to  house 
connections,  and  a  card  affixed  directing  the  handle 
to  be  depressed  to  fill  the  elevator  tank,  and  then 
raised  and  left  in  its  former  position;  and  the  pump 
can  only  be  stopped  by  replacing  the  lever  in  its 
horizontal  position. 

The  electrical  connections  are  so  arranged  that 
when  the  water  in  the  house  falls  to  a  certain  depth 
its  float  operates  a  switch  and  turns  the  current  from 
the  street  main  into  the  motor  circuit  and  starts  the 
pump,  breaking  the  circuit  and  stopping  the  pump 
when  the  float  rises  to  the  top  of  the  tank,  thus  mak- 
ing the  house  service  automatic.  When  the  handle 
H  is  depressed  to  connect  the  pump  to  the  elevator 
pipes,  its  attached  rod  R  pulls  down  the  lever  T  and 
makes  a  contact  between  the  copper  bars  U  U  and 
the  posts  X  X,  which  completes  the  circuit  between 
the  main  line  wire  Z  and  the  pump  wires  Z',  and  thus 
starts  and  stops  the  pump  by  opening  and  closing 
the  elevator  valves.  Y  is  merely  a  brass  frame  by 
which  the  elevator  switch  is  supported  from  the  ceil- 
ing. 

Figure  4  shows  the  details  of  the  switch  open,  the 
valve  making  connections  for  the  house  tank.  Re- 
versing the  valve  so  as  to  make  elevator  connections 
makes  rod  R  pull  handle  T  down  to  T'  and  closes 
the  circuit  between  the  main  wires  Z  and  the  pump 
wires  Z'  through  copper  bars  U  U  and  posts  X  X. 
The  operation  of  this  valve  and  pump  system  has 
proved  convenient  and  satisfactory.  The  designers 
believe  it  to  be  complete  and  reliable  and  well 
adapted  to  conditions  where  two  different  services 
are  required  from  the  same  pump,  and  that  it  is  the 
first  instance  where  a  house  pump  has  been  con- 
nected to  two  suctions  and  two  discharges  controlled 
by  a  single  valve.  The  house  tank  was  originally 
arranged  to  be  filled  as  fast  as  the  water  fell  8  inches 
from  the  high-water  tank,  but  by  suspending  its  float 
weight  by  a  spiral  spring  the  motion  of  the  exterior 
lever  is  reduced  one-half  and  the  pump  only  operates 
for  a  fall  of  16  inches  in  level.  As  first  arranged  the 
elevator-tank  float  was  made  to  operate  at  low  water 
an  electromagnet  that  exerted  sufficient  pull  on  the 
valve  handle  H  to  pull  it  down  and  open  .the  elevator 
ports.  When  the  tank  was  full  the  handle  was  re- 
leased, allowing  a  counterweight  to  return  it  to  its 
original  position.  As  this  arrangement  made  the 
entire  system  automatic,  it  was  feared  that  no  atten- 
tion would  ever  be  paid  to  the  machinery,  so  it  was 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


made  to  require  personal  attention  about  once  a  week 
when  the  low-water  alarm  sounded  for  the  elevator 
tank,  and  the  attendant  is  thus  reminded  to  clean 
and  oil  the  pump. 


PLUMBING    OF    A    BARBER'S    SHOP    IN 
BOSTON. 

(PUBLISHED  IN  1887.) 

THE  accompanying  illustration  shows  the  plumb- 
ing fixtures  of  the  barber  shop  in  the  Quincy  House. 


Boston.  This  room  is  very  elaborate  in  its  appoint- 
ments. The  floor  is  of  black  and  white  marble.  The 
walls  for  3  feet  6  inches  high  are  covered  with  pan. 
eled  white  marble,  finely  polished;  above  the  marble 
the  walls  are  covered  with  mirrors.  The  ceiling  is 
covered  by  mirrors  and  stained  and  ornamental  glass 
set  in  lead  frames.  The  chandeliers  are  of  special 
design,  with  a  one-light  fixture,  which  hangs  in  front 
of  each  chair.  About  3  feet  from  the  floor  in  front 
of  each  chair  a  marble  slab  16  inches  wide  is  contin- 


ELEVATION  OF 

BARBERS'  BOWLS 


FLAN  OF 
SHAMPOOING  BASINS 

DETAILS   IN  QUINCY   HOUSE  BARBER   SHOP,   BOSTON,    MASS. 


ELEVATION  OF  BARBERS  BOWLS 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


223 


tied  quite  round  the  room;  it  rests  on  turned  and 
fluted  polished  marble  legs.  In  this  slab  a  small 
individual  basin  is  set  a  little  to  the  right  of  each 
chair  supplied  by  hot  and  cold  water.  The  supplies 
and  traps  are  of  polished  brass.  These  pipes  and 
traps  are  in  full  view,  and  in  a  few  moments  can 
be  uncoupled  in  case  of  accident.  The  pipes  have 
brass  plates  where  they  pass  through  the  marble. 
Back-air  vents  are  on  the  other  side  of  the  wall. 

In  the  middle  of  the  room  are  four  large  basins  set 
in  one  white  marble  slab  which  rests  on  four  legs 
with  brass  supply  and  traps,  the  same  as  the  individ- 
ual bowls.  These  basins  are  for  shampooing  pur- 
poses only.  The  supply  cocks  for  this  fixture  are 
from  a  special  design.  It  is  claimed  that  the  hot  and 
cold  water  can  be  readily  regulated  to  the  desired 
temperature  without  causing  the  customer  the  usual 
annoyance  of  changes  from  hot  to  cold  unless  great 
care  is  observed  by  the  workman.  The  difficulty  of 
ventilating  the  traps  of  the  shampooing  fixture  was 
overcome  by  using  a  2-inch  wrought-iron  pipe  which 
passes  from  the  traps  through  the  center  of  the  fix- 
ture and  through  the  ceiling.  This  pipe  has  inside 
of  it.  a  small  gas  pipe  which  lights  the  fixtures  by 
four  brackets. 

The  architect  was  Mr.  Samuel  J.  F.  Thayer,  and  the 
plumbers  were  Messrs.  Tucker  &  Titus,  all  of  Boston. 


AN  AUTOMATIC  GAS  ENGINE    CUT-OFF. 

IN  a  system  of  ventilation  recently  established  in 
New  York  City,  the  fresh-air  blast  is  produced  by  a 
Root  blower,  which  is  driven  by  an  Otto  gas  engine. 
As  there  is  a  possibility  of  the  flame  at  the  engine 
being  extinguished,  the  gas  might  escape  and  prove 
dangerous,  so  the  arrangement  herewith  described 
was  devised  to  insure  the  prompt  shutting  off  of  the 
gas  the  moment  the  engine  stops,  as  it  must  imme- 
diately do  if  the  jet  is  extinguished. 

Figure  i  Is  a  diagram  of  arrangement  showing  the 
operation  of  the  cut-off  without  regard  to  scale  or  pre- 
cise details.  In  it  A  is  the  gas  engine,  driving  the 
blower  C  from  the  countershaft  B.  D  is  the  blast 
main,  F  is  a  branch  hose  to  the  collapsible  bag  G,  H 
is  the  cut-off  valve,  I  is  the  gas  meter,  K  is  the  sup- 
ply to  the  engine,  and  J  J  are  equalizing  bags.  So 
long  as  pressure  is  maintained  in  the  main  D,  it  will 
be  the  same  in  F,  and  will  keep  bag  G  distended, 
thereby  holding  open  valve  H.  But  if  the  pressure 
ceases  in  D  and  F,  bag  G  collapses,  allowing  valve 
H  to  close  by  a  counterweight  and  shuts  off  the 
gas. 

Figure  2  shows  the  operation  of  valve  II  by  bag  G, 
which  rests  on  a  shelf  or  table  P,  and  supports  on 
top  a  disk  O  pivoted  to  the  lever  L,  which  has  a  ful- 
crum at  M  and  a  guide  at  N,  and  raises  or  depresses 


/?f 


O 


AN  AUTOMATIC  GAS  ENGINE  CUT-OFF. 


224  AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 

valve  stem  S.  When  the  bag  G  is  inflated  the  posi-  only  necessary  to  hold  lever  L  up  until  the  blower 
tion  of  the  lever,  etc.  is  as  shown,  but  if  the  bag  is  starts,  when  it  will  remain  as  shown, 
emptied  the  lever  L,  actuated  by  its  adjustable  coun-  For  a  description  and  sketch,  from  which  our  illus- 
terweight  W,  falls  to  position  L1,  and  the  double  trations  are  prepared,  we  are  indebted  to  W.  J.  Bald- 
poppet  valves  fall  to  their  seats,  thus  promptly  shut-  win,  consulting  engineer,  who  devised  the  arrange- 
ting  off  the  gas.  When  the  engine  is  started  it  is  ment. 


NOTES   AND   QUERIES. 


PLUMBING   OF  SWIMMING   BATHS. 


FUEL  REQUIRED  IN  HEATING  A  SWIMMING 
BATH. 

A.  T.  ROGERS,  of  New  York,  writes: 

"This  problem  has  been  put  to  me:  'How  much 
coal  is  required  to  heat  the  water  in  a  swimming 
bath  containing,  say  85,000  gallons  of  water,  by 
hot-water  circulation?'  The  system  proposed  is 
to  connect  the  flow  pipe  from  the  heater  at 
one  end  of  the  tank,  near  the  top,  and  the  re- 
turn at  the  bottom  at  the  other  end.,  thus  caus- 
ing all  the  water  of  the  bath  to  pass  through  the 
heater.  From  data  which  I  have  obtained  I  have 
calculated  that  to  raise  this  amount  of  water  from, 
say  40°  to  90°  Fahr.,  would  require  the  consumption 
of  about  2,800  pounds  of  coal.  Allowing  a  consump- 
tion of  five  pounds  of  coal  per  hour  per  square  foot 
of  grate  surface,  a  grate  containing  56  square  feet  of 
surface  would  be  required  to  do  the  work  in  10  hours. 
I  should  like  to  hear  from  the  experience  of  others  in 
this  kind  of  work." 

[The  85  ooo  gallons  of  water  would  weigh  ap- 
proximately 708,333  pounds.  To  raise  the  tempera- 
ture of  this  weight  of  water  from  40°  to  90°  Fahr. ,  or 
through  50°  Fahr. ,  would  call  for  the  expenditure  of 
about  708,333  X  50,  or  35,416,650  heat  units.  Assum- 
ing that  10  pounds  of  water  can  be  evaporated  by  one 
pound  of  coal  (good  ordinary  practice),  it  will  require 
about  3,541  pounds  of  coal  to  do  the  work  required  in 
10  hours,  or  at  the  rate  of  354  pounds  of  coal  burned 
per  hour.  Allowing,  say,  10  pounds  of  coal  to  be 
burned  per  square  foot  of  grate  surface  per  hour, 
•which  is  a  fair  figure,  35.4  square  feet  of  grate  area 
would  be  required  to  do  the  work.] 


HEATING  A  SWIMMING  BATH   PROBLEM. 

X.  L.,  from  San  Francisco,  says: 

"  My  swimming  tank  will  be  80  feet  long  by  30  feet 
wide,  and  of  an  average  depth  of  5  feet.  It  will 
have  an  8  inch  inlet  and  the  same  size  outlet.  The 
temperature  of  the  water  will  be  about  74°  Fahr.,  as 
it  runs  into  the  tank,  and  I  would  like  to  raise  it  to 
84  degrees.  I  want  also  to  supply  hot  water  to  20 
bathtubs.  Now,  how  can  I  get  the  desired  tempera- 
ture with  this  large  volume  of  water  running  through 
the  tank?  By  answering  the  above  information 
through  the  columns  of  your  journal  you  will  greatly 
oblige  a  subscriber." 

[A  tank  of  the  size  given  will  hold  approximately 
744,000  pounds  of  water  when  full,  and  if  you  desire 
to  increase  its  temperature  from  74  to  84  degrees  in 
one  hour  of  time,  you  .vill  require  a  boiler  that  is 
capable  of  evaporating  744,000  pounds  of  water  in  an 
hour,  or  thereabouts,  say,  in  round  numbers,  250 
horse-power.  This,  remember,  is  for  one  hour;  in 
other  words,  if  you  want  to  warm  that  tank  full  of 
water  10  degrees  in  one  hour,  you  will  require  boilers 
equal  to  250  horse-power. 


On  the  other  hand,  if  you  are  satisfied  to  start  your 
boiler,  say  the  evening  before,  and  spend  10  hours  of 
the  night  in  warming  the  water,  instead  of  one  hour, 
then  a  boiler  of  about  one -tenth  the  capacity,  or  a 
little  over,  will  do,  say  a  30  horse-power  boiler,  the 
extra  five  horse-power  being  sufficient  to  cover  the 
loss  of  heat  from  the  tank  during  the  10  hours  you 
are  warming  it  up. 

You  have  omitted  a  very  important  item  in  ask- 
ing this  question,  by  not  mentioning  the  quantity  of 
water  that  runs  through  the  tank  every  hour.  You 
say,  "  How  can  I  get  at  the  desired  temperature  with 
this  large  volume  of  water  running  through  the  tank?" 
You  omit  to  say  how  great  this  volume  is,  and  also 
the  time  taken  for  it  to  run  through  the  tank.  If  you 
mean  to  run  the  full  contents  of  the  tank  through 
every  hour,  then  it  will  require  boilers  of  250  horse- 
power,  as  before  stated.  If  you  intend  to  run  it 
through  in  10  hours  it  will  take  a  30  horse-power 
boiler,  as  before.  If,  however,  you  are  satisfied  with 
running  only  1,000  gallons  of  fresh  water  in  every 
hour,  a  boiler  of  about  three  horse- power  will  be 
ample,  and  for  every  additional  1,000  gallons  you 
will  want  another  three  horse-power  added  to  the 
boiler.  With  this  you  will  be  able  to  find  the  boiler 
power. 

Fifteen  pounds  of  steam  per  hour  (one-half  horse- 
power) condensed  to  water,  will  warm  a  bathtub  full 
of  water  once.  If  your  20  tubs  are  used  continuously, 
once  in  an  hour  for  10  hours  a  day  (or  for  any  time) 
you  will  require  five  horse-power  additional  for  baths. 
To  apply  the  heat  of  the  boiler  to  the  swimming  bath 
you  may  simply  circulate  direct  from  a  hot-water 
boiler,  or  use  steam  in  a  coil  in  the  bottom  of  the 
swimming  bath.] 


SIZE  OF  PIPE    FOR   HEATING   OF   A   SWIM- 
MING POOL  BY  STEAM. 
N.  K.  HOWARD,  Lincoln,  Neb.,  writes: 
"I  wish  to  heat  a  swimming  pool  I2<>X38  feet  in 
size  and  6  feet  deep.     I  want  to  use  live  steam  at 
high  pressure,  run  through  a  deadener.     How  large 
a  pipe  will  I  need,  what  kind  of  a  deadener  should  I 
have  to  insure  freedom  from  noise,  and  about  how 
long  will  it  require  to  heat  the  water  in  the  pool  ? " 

[In  THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD  of  November  22, 
1892,  an  illustration  is  given  of  a  "  deadener  "  which 
appears  to  be  well  adapted  to  this  case.  We  suggest 
that  you  make  it  about  4  feet  long,  the  internal  per- 
forated brass  pipe  to  be  2  inches  in  diameter  and  the 
4-inch  space  about  it  to  be  filled  with  broken  pebbles 
or  some  such  substance.  Locknuts  should  be  used 
at  top  and  bottom  of  the  deadener  so  that  it  may  be 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


taken  apart  for  cleansing.  This  should  rest  on  the 
bottom  of  the  tank,  and  have  a  galvanized-wire 
guard  about  it  large  enough  to  prevent  bathers  from 
touching  it.  With  high  pressure  steam  a  i^-inch 
pipe  will  be  amply  large.  The  valve  should  be  out 
of  the  reach  of  the  bathers,  so  that  the  pipe  on  the 
tank  side  of  the  valve  will  be  cooled  when  the  steam 
is  shut  off.  Steam  should  be  turned  off  when  the 
temperature  of  the  water  reaches  70°  Fahr.,as  the 
4,750  square  feet  of  water  surface  in  the  tank  will 
absorb  heat  from  the  greater  heat  of  the  air  in  the 
tank-room.  The  time  required  to  heat  the  water 
will  depend  upon  the  temperature  of  the  air  in  the 


room  and  of  the  water  to  be  heated.  The  overflow 
pipe  should  be  at  the  opposite  end  of  the  tank  from 
the  heater,  as  the  top  current  when  heating  will 
naturally  be  towards  it.  If  a  small  stream  of  water 
is  allowed  to  flow  continuously  into  the  tank,  the 
floating  animal  fats,  etc.  on  the  top  of  the  water  will 
pass  off  through  the  overflow,  which  will  thus  act  as 
an  effective  skimmer.  A  coil  of  i-inch  brass  pipe, 
four  high,  across  one  end  of  your  plunge  bath,  the 
bottom  pipe  being  capped  and  J^-inch  holes  drilled 
a  few  inches  apart,  on  its  bottom  side,  will  also  make 
a  very  good  heater,  and,  like  the  other,  should  be 
faced  with  a  wire  guard.] 


NOTES  AND  QUERIES  ON  HOT-WATER  SUPPLY 


AIR-BOUND  PIPING. 

F.  A.  C.,  Chicago,  writes: 

"  The  inclosed  sketch  represents  a  defective  hot- 
water  supply  in  a  private  residence  in  Chicago.  B  B 
indicates  the  hot-water  pipe  and  C  the  cold.  It  will 
be  noticed  that  the  pipe  B  is  carried  down  from 
boiler  to  basement,  thence  suspended  from  ceiling 
and  carried  a  distance  of  about  7  feet,  from  which 
point  it  extends  up  direct  to  second  floor  to  washbasin 
in  bathroom  A  branch  not  shown  is  taken  off  in 
the  basement  and  extends  to  laundry  tubs. 

"When  the  temperature  falls  very  low  several 
minutes  will  pass  before  hot  water  flows  to  second 
floor;  there  is  frequently  no  flow  at  all  when  faucet  is 
first  opened,  and  water  is  always  cold.  The  cause  of 
this  trouble  is  in  pipe  B  at  A,  where  air  accumulates, 
causing  it  to  become  air-bound,  produced  by  eleva- 
tion of  pipe  at  this  point.  To  remove  the  air  it  is 


necessary  to  open  faucet  in  laundry  tubs,  which  soon 
releases  the  air,  restoring  flow  to  normal  condition, 
permitting  hot  water  to  ascend  to  basin  on  second 
floor. 

"The  writer  advised  a  change  in  the  pipe  B  by 
extending  it  up  to  ceiling  of  first  floor,  connecting 
with  ascending  pipe  as  shown  by  broken  lines  at  D. 
When  this  change  is  made  hot  water  can  be  drawn 
at  once  in  bathroom. 

"  I  present  the  following  to  be  answered  by  your 
readers,  as  a  reply  may  be  of  interest. 

"  The  tap  and  service  pipe  for  this  dwelling  are 
each  one-half  inch  in  diameter.  The  head  is  dimin- 
ished during  early  portion  of  the  day,  caused  by  an 
increase  in  the  consumption  at  this  time.  To  improve 


the  supply  a  plumbet  states  that  the  head  would  be 
improved  if  service  pipe  was  increased  to  i  inch  in 
diameter.  His  reason  for  this  is  that  a  greater 
quantity  of  water  would  be  carried  into  dwelling 
through  a  i-inch  pipe,  thereby  increasing  the  height 
of  flow  on  second  floor.  Is  the  plumber  correct  ? " 


MORE  AIR-BOUND  PIPING. 

A  PHILADELPHIA  apprentice  asks: 

"  Will  you  tell  me  what  is  the  trouble  with  the  job 
shown  in  this  sketch?  A  horizontal  ij^-inch  iron 
pipe  A  A  runs  from  the  pump  to  the  lower  tank,  with 
a  branch  B  leading  off  to  the  upper  tank  and  a  branch 
C  acting  as  an  overflow  from  the  higher  to  the  lower 
tank.  The  difference  in  elevation  between  the  tanks 
is  15  feet  and  they  are  about  300  feet  apart.  When 
the  stop-cock  D  is  closed  and  the  pump  started  up, 
water  refuses  to  overflow  from  the  higher  to  the 
lower  tank,  but  when  the  cock  D  is  open  the  pump 
forces  water  through  all  right." 

[It  is  probable  that  air  collects  in  the  short  hori- 
zontal overflow  pipe.  The  whole  difficulty  can 
undoubtedly  be  removed  by  putting  in  a  T  instead  of 
the  elbow  E,  and  running  a  piece  of  pipe  with  an 
open  end  about  a  foot  above  the  top  of  the  tank.  The 


reason  the  water  does  not  flow  through  the  pipe  C  is 
that  you  cannot  force  water  into  a  space  already 
occupied  by  air,  as  in  this  pipe  C.  You  must  arrange 
for  the  air  to  escape,  which  it  could  not  do  with  the 
bend  at  E  as  shown  in  your  sketch.] 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


227 


COIL  HEATING  OF  A  BATH  SUPPLY. 
N.  K.  HOWARD,  Lincoln,  Neb  ,  writes: 
"  I  send  a  sketch  of  a  bathroom  plunge  bath  and  a 
lank  to  heat  its  water  supply.  The  plunge  bath  is 
31  feet  long,  12  feet  wide  by  6  feet  deep  at  one  end, 
and  4  feet  deep  at  the  other.  The  tank  is  10  feet 
long  by  36  inches  in  diameter.  I  intend  to  try  and 
heat  the  bath  by  using  live  steam  in  a  coil  in  the  tank 
made  on  the  plan  of  a  box  coil,  containing  175  feet  of 
i^-inch  pipe,  taking  steam  from  the  heating  boiler 
through  a  2  inch  pips  and  returning  to  the  boiler. 


PLAN. 

The  hot- water  supply  to  the  bath  is  i  ^-inch.  with  a 
pressure  of  40  pounds  to  the  square  inch  (city  press- 
ure). Can  I  heat  the  water  as  fast  as  it  is  taken 
through  the  i  ^  inch  pipe  ?  How  long  will  it  take  to 
fill  the  plunge  bath?" 

[A  very  short  i^-inch  pipe,  under  the  most  favor- 
able conditions,  will  deliver  about  two-thirds  cubic 
foot  of  water  per  second  at  a  pressure  of  40  pounds, 
so  that  under  the  most  favorable  circumstances  it 
would  take  a  half-hour  to  put,  say,  4  feet  of  water  in 
the  bath.  The  friction  of  your  pipes,  however, 
forms  a  factor  which  will  reduce  the  quantity  so 
greatly  that  we  would  not  be  surprised  if  it  took  four 
to  five  hours  to  fill  the  bath.  At  the  rate  of  filling  in 
five  hours  17,856  pounds  of  water  must  be  warmed  in 
an  hour,  and  to  warm  this,  say  from  40°  Fahr.  to  60° 
Fahr.,  is  the  equivalent  of  condensing  357  pounds 
"weight  of  steam  to  water  every  hour,  or,  say,  ioj^ 
horse-power.  Under  such  circumstances,  we  are  of 
the  opinion  you  have  coil  surface  enough,  but  that 
your  inlet  to  the  coil  should  be  about  a  3-inch  pipe, 
and  your  return  pipe  2-inch,  if  you  are  to  have  a 
gravity  apparatus.] 


SIZE  FOR  HOUSE  SERVICE  PIPE  WANTED. 

SUBSCRIBER,  Ypsilanti,  Mich  ,  writes: 

"  In  the  city  of  Ypsilanti,  Mich.,  in  which  thev  are 
putting  in  water-works,  the  Superintendent  of  the 
Water  Board  claims  that  a  ^-inch  connection  of 
common  black  iron  pipe  run  from  a  city  main — the 
distance  of  about  50  feet,  and  the  pressure  on  the 
city  main  is  70  pounds  to  the  square  inch — would  be 


sufficient  to  supply  a  house  containing  one  bathtub, 
four  washstands,  one  water-closet,  one  sink,  and  one 
^-inch  street-washer.  Bathtub,  washstands,  and 
sink  are  supplied  with  hot  and  cold  water. 

"  The  plumber  wanted  a  i-inch  connection,  but  the 
Board  of  Water  Commissioners  laughed  at  him.  As 
it  was,  he  put  in  a  i-inch  connection  from  service 
cock.  Please  state  in  your  paper  what  you  think 
about  it." 

[Under  the  conditions  of  pressure  stated,  a  J^-inch 
round-way  corporation  cock  would  probably  answer 
the  purpose,  but  the  service  pipe  should  not  be  less 
than  three-fourths  inch,  and  a  i-inch  service  pipe  is 
not  a  needless  extravagance,  as  the  additional  ex- 
pense is  small,  and  the  loss  of  head  by  friction  is 
much  less  in  a  pipe  of  any  length.] 


TO  KEEP  COLD-WATER  PIPES  FROM 
SWEATING. 

ARCHITECT  writes: 

"  We  are  called  upon  to  remedy  a  trouble  that 
seems  to  be  very  general,  and  we  would  like  to  have 
your  advice  through  your  paper  as  to  the  best  means 
of  remedying  it.  The  hot  and  cold  water  pipes  in 
ths  house  in  question  are  fastened  to  the  ceiling  of 
the  basement;  the  hot- water  pipe  is  painted,  thecold- 
watar  pipe  is  not.  They  are  both  lead  pipes.  Since 
the  furnace  has  been  stopped  the  cold-water  pipe 
sweats  to  such  an  extent  that  the  floor  in  the  base- 
ment is  wet  all  the  time.  Can  you  suggest  any 
remedy  that  would  overcome  the  trouble  in  a  simple 
and  inexpensive  manner?  " 

[Your  trouble  is  simply  the  condensation  of  the 
moisture  in  the  air  on  a  cold  surface,  the  same  thing 
that  occurs  on  the  inside  of  the  kitchen  windows  in 
winter  and  on  the  outside  of  the  ice  pitcher  in  sum- 
mer. The  remedy  is  to  surround  the  pipe  with  some 
non-conductor  so  that  the  exposed  surface  shall  not 
be  so  cold;  any  non-conductor  will  do,  but  if  pervious 
to  the  air  like  felt  it  will  be  kept  damp  by  the  moist- 
ure passing  through  it  and  condensing  on  the  pipe 
inside,  and  will  be  liable  to  rot.  A  thick  coat  of  paint 
will  somewhat  reduce  the  condensation  and  will  be 
the  neatest  arrangement.  If  the  paint  is  thickened 
with  ground  cork  the  condensation  may  be  reduced 
to  an  inconsiderable  amount,  although  the  job  will 
not  be  as  smooth.  Such  paint  is  used  on  the  interior 
of  iron  ships  for  a  similar  purpose.  If  ground  cork 
is  not  readily  obtainable  probably  sawdust  would 
answer  a  similar  purpose,  though  it  is  not  quite  as 
good  a  non-conductor.  The  increase  of  your  trouble 
since  the  furnace  fire  went  out  has  probably  nothing 
to  do  with  the  absence  of  the  furnace  fire,  but  is 
most  likely  due  entirely  to  the  fact  that  there  is  much 
more  moisture  in  the  air  in  summer  than  in  winter, 
and  hence  more  of  it  is  condensed  on  your  cold  pipe.J 


MATERIALS  FOR  DOORS  OF  TURKISH 

BATHS. 

B  &  C  ,  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  write: 
"Will  you  please  let  us  know  .what  they  line  the 
doors  in  bathrooms  with  when  the  heat  is  to  be  180 
degrees,  and  oblige." 

[The  proprietor  of  the  Lafayette  Place  Turkish  and 
Russian  baths  in  New  York  says:  "  Florida  cypress 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


is  by  far  the  best  of  all  woods  for  doors,  window- 
casings,  and  sills.  It  should  be  thoroughly  kiln-dried, 
then  given  several  coats  of  the  best  linseed  oil,  and 
finished  rough  dry,  no  paint,  no  flannel  covering. 
Georgia  pine  and  other  woods  decay  quickly.  All 
woods  will  shrink  a  little,  but  Florida  cypress  will 
shrink  the  least  and  last  the  longest."] 


THE  FLOW  OF  WATER  IN  PIPES. 

N.  K.  LUDLOW,  Mobile,  Ala.,  writes: 

"  Will  you  kindly  answer  this  question  and  give 
me  the  rule  to  work  out  the  same,  to  wit:  A  i-inch 
iron  pipe  is  attached  to  an  8-inch  cast-iron  water 
main  in  the  street  and  is  run  in  this  shape  a  distance 
as  is  shown  on  the  inclosed  slip.  [Sketch  described 
in  answer — ED.]  Now,  how  much  water  would 
this  pipe  discharge  per  hour  with  a  pressure  of 
75  to  80  pounds  per  square  inch  on  the  main  in 
street?  Please  answer  and  send  rule  to  work  it  out, 
and  oblige." 

[If  an  elastic  ball  is  thrown  against  a  hard  sub- 
stance we  should  expect  it  to  rebound  with  the  same 
force  or  velocity  with  which  it  struck,  and  when  we 
find  that  a  ball  of  glass  or  ivory  dropped  on  a  smooth 
flagstone  rebounds  nearly  to  the  height  from  which 
it  fell  \ve  are  prepared  to  believe  that,  making  allow- 
ance for  the  resistance  of  the  air.  a  ball  or  other  body 
thrown  upward  with  a  given  velocity  will  rise  to  the 
height  from  which  it  would  have  had  to  fall  to 
acquire  that  velocity.  When,  therefore,  we  further 
observe  that  a  vertical  jet  of  water  will  under  favor- 
able conditions  rise  nearly  as  high  as  the  surface  of 
the  reservoir  from  which  it  is  supplied  we  see  that  if 
our  former  supposition  is  correct  it  must  issue  with  a 
velocity  as  great  as  it  would  have  acquired  in  falling 
freely  through  a  distance  equal  to  the  amount  that 
the  surface  of  the  reservoir  is  higher  than  the  orifice 
of  the  jet.  This  is  in  theory  exactly  true  and  would 
be  equally  true  in  practice  but  for  the  effect  of  the 
friction  of  the  water  through  the  pipe  and  nozzle  be- 
fore escaping. 

Let  us  then  first  see  how  much  the  theoretical  dis- 
charge of  our  pipe  would  be  and  then  how  much  the 
friction  is  likely  to  reduce  it. 

To  find  the  theoretical  velocity  of  the  flow  we  must 
know  what  head  of  water  will  give  a  pressure  of  75 
or  80  pounds.  A  cubic  foot  of  water  weighs  about 
62 \',.  pounds,  consequently  a  column  of  water  i  foot 
square  and  2.3  feet  high  will  weigh  144  pounds  and 
give  a  pressure  of  one  pound  per  square  inch  on  the 
bottom;  therefore,  to  get  a  pressure  of,  say  76  pounds 
per  square  inch,  requires  a  head  of  76  X  2. 3= 175  feet. 
A  body  in  falling  acquires  a  velocity  per  second  equal 
to  about  eight  times  the  square  root  of  the  distance 
fallen.  The  square  root  of  175  is  13^,  which,  multi- 
plied by  8,  is  106  feet  per  second. 

A  "  i-inch  "  pipe  is  a  little  more  than  i  inch  in  di- 
ameter, but  rust  and  roughness  make  it  unsafe  to 
count  on  more,  and  therefore  as  the  area  of  a  i-inch 
circle  is.  7854  of  a  square  inch,  that  amount  multiplied 
by  1,272,  the  number  of  inches  in  io6feet,  and  divided 
by  231 ,  the  number  of  cubic  inches  in  a  gallon,  equals 
4.32  gallons  per  second,  or  15,600  gallons  per  hour, 
the  theoretical  discharge  through  a  i-inch  pipe  with 


76  pounds  pressure  per  square  inch.  How  much  the 
friction  of  the  pipe  will  reduce  this  discharge  is  un- 
certain. The  problem  of  the  flow  of  water  in  pipes 
is  most  difficult  and  complicated,  and  though  the 
ablest  hydraulic  engineers  have  long  endeavered  to 
devise  a  formula  for  it  at  once  simple,  accurate,  and 
generally  applicable,  their  efforts  have  so  far  been 
only  partially  successful.  Your  sketch  shows  your 
pipe  to  be  132  feet  long  with  two  elbows  and  a  stop- 
cock in  it.  The  frictional  resistance  of  an  ordinary 
screwed  elbow  is  estimated  to  be  equal  to  that  of  a. 
length  of  pipe  equal  to  100  diameters,  whicn  in  this 
case  would  be  about  8  feet.  A  stop-cock,  with  its 
reduced  opening,  offers  perhaps  twice  as  much  re- 
sistance as  an  elbow,  or  altogether  the  resistance  of 
stop  cock  and  elbows  may  be  assumed  equal  to  that 
of  32  feet  of  pipe,  so  your  question  practically  be- 
comes what  will  be  the  discharge  per  hour  through 
165  feet  of  i-inch  pipe  with  a  pressure  of  76  pounds 
per  square  inch.  To  this,  some  standard  formulas 
give  answers  varying  from  1,747  to  2,605  gallons,  a 
difference  of  50  per  cent.,  which  well  illustrates  the 
uncertainty  of  our  present  knowledge  of  the  subject. 
On  August  ii,  1888,  we  published  some  "  Notes  on 
Simple  Methods  of  Calculating  the  Flow  of  Water 
Through  Pipes,"  by  Edward  Murphy,  in  which  occurs 

the  formula  \/(425  X  d  X  p)  •*•  /  =  v;  or,  in  other 
words,  multiply  the  diameter  in  inches  by  the  press- 
ure in  pounds  per  square  inch  and  multiply  the  pro 
duct  by  425,  divide  this  new  product  by  the  length  >  j 
feet  and  extract  the  square  root  of  the  quotient  a. id 
the  answer  will  be  the  velocity  in  feet  per  second, 
from  which  the  discharge  can  be  found  as  before. 
Applying  the  rule  to  this  case  i  X  76  X  425  =  32,300, 
which  divided  by  165  =  195.76,  of  which  the  square 
root  is  14.  This  velocity  in  feet  per  second  multiplied 
by  .7854.  the  area  of  the  pipe,  and  by  3,600,  the  num- 
ber of  seconds  in  an  hour,  and  then  by  12  to  reduce 
it  to  inches  and  divided  by  231,  the  number  of  cubic 
inches  in  a  gallon,  equals  2,056,  the  discharge  in  gal- 
lons per  hour.  As  this  is  reasonably  between  the 
extremes  mentioned  before  and  agrees  very  closely 
with  the  discharge  found  by  the  rule  in  Box's  hydrau- 
lics, it  is  probably  as  near  the  truth  as  we  can  expect 
to  get  by  any  process  of  calculation.  From  this  it 
appears  that  the  friction  will  in  this  case  reduce  the 
discharge  to  about  one  eighth  of  the  theoretical 
amount. 

We  have  taken  more  than  usual  space  to  answer 
what  seems  a  very  simple  question,  but  it  is  one  of 
very  general  interest,  and  the  answer  here  given 
may  serve  for  many  similar  questions.] 


WATER  SUPPLY  FOR  A  COUNTRY   HOUSE. 

A.  S.,  West  Point,  N.  Y.,  writes: 

"  I  wish  to  supply  my  house  with  water  from  a 
spring  i, 800  feet  distant  and  discharging  600  gallons 
of  soft  and  pure  water  every  24  hours.  This  spring 
is  172  feet  above  the  ground  floor  of  the  house.  What 
is  the  best  method  of  piping  this  supply  for  culinary 
purposes,  bathroom,  water  closets,  and  lawn  sprink- 
lers?" 

[Nearly  10  years  ago  the  late  E.  S.  Philbrick  an- 
swered a  similar  question  in  our  columns  substantially 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


223 


as  follows:  A  ^f-inch  cement-lined  pipe  should  be 
used  to  conduct  the  water.  The  method  of  making 
such  a  pipe  is  fully  described  in  Billings's  "  Details 
of  Water- Works  Construction."  Care  should  be 
taken  to  cut  the  screw-thread  so  as  to  allow  the  ends 
of  the  pipe  to  abut  against  each  other  when  screwed 
into  the  couplings,  for  if  a  gap  of  one-eighth  of  an 
inch  or  more  is  left  the  inside  of  the  coupling  it  will 
rust  and  fill  up  the  pipe. 

If  you  must  have  a  storage  of  water  for  sprinkling 
lawns  or  any  exigency  demanding  a  rapid  delivery 
for  a  short  time,  make  a  small  tank  in  your  attic  or 
as  close  to  your  house  as  possible,  of  a  few  barrels 
capacity,  and  draw  your  drinking  and  cooking  water, 
not  from  this  but  by  a  branch  tap  from  the  main. 
Let  the  water  enter  the  tank  at  the  top  and  discharge 
the  surplus  by  an  overflow  pipe  into  the  open  air. 
In  this  way  the  branch  tap  will  never  draw  from  the 
tank,  but  always  direct  from  the  source.  Then  put 
in  a  pipe  from  the  bottom  of  the  tank  to  supply  the 
hose.] 


EQUALIZING    THE    FLOW   IN    A   DOMESTIC 
WATER  SERVICE. 

B.  S.  M  ,  Motftreal,  writes: 

"  A  half-inch  water  service  i?  all  that  the  water 
company  will  allow  here.  Introduced  into  a  dwell- 
ing of  three  stories  and  basement,  with  fixtures  dis- 
tributed as  shown  on  the  sketch,  it  is  desired  to 
equalize  the  flow  from  the  different  fixtures  so  as  to 
prevent  the  shutting  off  of  the  supply  from  a  fixture 
in  an  upper  flat  by  the  opening  of  a  cock  on  a  flat 
below.  The  service  is  increased  to  three-fourths  inch 
and  run  to  the  highest  fixture.  The  cocks  are  graded 
in  size  for  the  flats  below,  being  three-eighths  inch 
for  the  basement,  one-half  inch  for  ground  floor,  five- 
eighths  inch  for  the  first  floor,  and  three-fourths  inch 
for  the  top  floor.  Will  this  arrangement  shown  in 
Fig.  2  have  the  desired  effect?  The  architect  pro- 


poses running  the  main  direct  to  the  top  floor,  bend- 
ing and  dropping  to  the  flats  below,  taking  cocks 
from  the  drop  pipe  (see  Fig.  i).  Will  that  be  an  im- 
provement I  propose  running  the  ^-inch  service 
into  a  closed  tank,  say  a  30  gallon  galvanized  kitchen 
boiler,  and  taking  a  separate  branch  from  it  to  each 
flat,  Fig.  2.  What  would  be  the  effect  of  that  plan  1 " 

[We  would  not  advise  the  consideration  of  any  of 
the  three  plans  proposed.  Carry  your  ^-inch  sup- 
ply directly  to  a  tank  placed  in  the  attic,  the  tank  to 
have  a  ball  cock  and  float  to  control  the  supply  of 
water.  From  the  tank  take  out  a  house  supply  large 
enough  to  supply  hot  and  cold  water  to  all  fixtures, 
tht  pipe  to  start  as  a  i  i^-inch  with  a  |^-inch  branch 
to  the  upper  floor;  then  reduce  at  the  branch  to  I 
inch  for  second  floor,  reduce  again  to  three-fourths 
inch  for  first  floor,  and  from  there  carry  a  J^-inch 
pipe  to  the  basement.  A  s'x4'x3^'  tank  would  give 
about  450  gallons,  and  with  the  piping  mentioned 
would  furnish  a  plentiful  supply  for  all  the  fixtures. 
We  have  noc  sufficient  data  as  to  the  length  of  the 
pipes  and  pressure  on  the  main  to  say  which  of  the 
plans  would  be  the  most  satisfactory,  but  know  that 
the  method  illustrated  by  Fig.  2  has  been  used  with 
success.  The  drawback  to  it  in  your  case  is  the 
small  supply  pipe  from  the  street  main,  but  if  the 
pressure  is  excessively  high,  we  believe  the  arrange- 
ment shown  in  Fig.  2  would  give  the  best  result  of 
those  you  propose.] 


TO  MAKE  A  CELLAR  WALL  WATER-TIGHT 

SUBSCRIBER,  Boston,  Mass.,  writes: 

"  Is  there  any  way  of  constructing  a  cellar  which 
shall  be  reasonably  water-tight?  After  repeated  sad 
experiences,  I  have  given  up  any  hope  for  one  which 
shall  be  absolutely  damp-proof;  but  it  does  seem  as 
though  there  coula  be  some  way  devised  for  keeping 
out  water.  My  house  is  on  a  hilltop,  yet  the  cellar  is 
flooded  regularly  every  spring.  If  you  can  suggest 


W.C. 

FloorH 

Both  Tub 

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Ba-th 

_  y         IV.B. 

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Floor 

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Floor 

T 

Bait  Tub 

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s* 

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THI  I 

NCINIIR.«  RECORD,  '''£""""'>" 

FIG.  I  -FIG.2  FIG.3 

EQUALIZING   THE   FLOW  IN   A  DOMESTIC  WATER   SERVICE. 


2SO 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


any  remedy,  even  a  partial  one,   you  will  greatly 
oblige." 

[Subscriber's  trouble  is  a  very  old  one,  to  which 
hilltop  houses  are  nearly  as  liable  as  those  in  a  valley. 
A  very  good  plan  is  to  dig  the  cellar  18  inches  deeper 
than  required  for  finished  height,  filling  in  with 
coarse,  broken  stone,  well  rammed  down  to  prevent 
settling.  The  outside  walls  should  be  started  over  a 
similar  filling,  laid  in  a  trench  a  little  deeper  than  the 
bottom  of  the  cellar  excavation.  Then  over  the 
broken  stone  in  the  cellar  is  laid  a  course  of  concrete 
3  or  4  inches  thick,  the  walls  being  laid  up  in  cement 
mortar.  In  most  localities  the  water  will  never  rise 


higher  than  the  stone  filling,  but  in  a  clay  soil,  if  full 
of  seams,  the  cellar  bottom  had  better  be  sloped 
slightly  towards  a  sump  at  the  center,  or  other 
convenient  place,  which  should  be  connected  with  a  tile 
drain  carried  far  enough  away  from  the  building  to 
discharge  properly  below  the  level  of  the  cellar 
bottom,  but  of  course  not  connected  with  any  sewer 
or  cesspool.  It  is  possible  to  make  tight  a  cellar 
bottom  which  is  below  tide  water,  but  the  process  is 
usually  too  expensive  to  be  considered  in  connection 
with  ordinary  dwellings.  There  are  parties  in  New 
York  who  make  a  business  of  constructing  such 
water-proof  cellars.] 


NOTES  AND  QUERIES  ON  HOUSE-DRAINAGE  PROBLEMS. 


BADLY  DESIGNED  PLUMBING  IN  A  NEW 
YORK  HOUSE. 

THE  results  which  may  follow  carelessness  or  in- 
competency  of  design  in  plumbing  systems  are  illus- 
trated by  the  condition  of  affairs  lately  discovered  in 
a  New  York  house  where  the  pipes  were  being  over- 
hauled to  make  alterations  for  the  remodeling  of 
some  plumbing  which  had  been  done  within  three 
years.  It  is  not  stated  that  the  workmanship  or  ma- 
terial were  found  defective,  but  the  arrangement, 
while  conforming  to  most  of  the  ordinary  specific  re- 
quirements, was  so  bad  as  to  permit  and  produce  an 
unsanitary  condition  of  operation,  entirely  nulliiy 
the  trap  ventilation  and  effect  a  discharge  to  the 
sewer  in  an  improper  manner,  which  was  never  in- 
tended, and  was  not  suspected  until  revealed  by  the 


.Hollow  leg  waste. 


Kitchen  Sinn 

i 


Choked  u/itTi  grease^ 

/ 

2"Vem 


alterations.  The  waste  from  the  kitchen  sink  was 
trapped  below  the  floor,  and  the  back-air  pipe  also 
run  below  the  floor,  nearly  horizontal  to  its  riser,  so 
that  when  the  kitchen-sink  waste  became  stopped  by 
the  collection  of  grease  below  its  trap  the  discharge 
was  forced  through  the  back-air  pipe,  and  at  first  es- 
caped through  the  foot  of  its  riser,  which  also  vented 
the  cellar-sink  waste,  and  through  that  waste  into  the 
sewer.  After  a  time  the  vertical  riser  also  became 
obstructed  with  grease  just  above  the  cellar-sink  trap, 
and  cutting  off  the  discharge  through  it  backed  the 
water  up  until  it  escaped  through  another  higher 
branch  from  the  riser  that  vented  the  trap  of  the 
laundry  tubs,  through  which  the  sink  water  was  thus 
compelled  to  flow  to  the  soil  pipe  and  thence  to  the 
drain.  A  considerable  body  of  dirty  untrapped  water 
was  thus  always  standing  in  the  vent  pipe,  which  it 


filled  completely  up  to  the  inlet  from  the  laundrjr 
tubs,  and  the  ventilation  of  the  kitchen  and  cellar 
sinks  was  entirely  destroyed.  The  use  of  a  grease 
trap  would  have  prevented  the  grease  from  obstruct- 
ing the  pipes,  and  the  location  of  the  sink  vent-pipe 
branch  above  the  overflow,  as  is  carefully  provided 
for  in  every  case  in  good  practice,  would  have  made 
it  impossible  for  discharge  to  have  taken  place  except 
through  the  waste  pipe. 


HOUSE    CONNECTIONS   ON   PIPE    SEWERS. 
G.,  of  Boston,  writes: 

"  Will  you  tell  me  what  is  generally  used  for  house 
connections  on  what  is  known  as  a  separate  system 
of  pipe  sewers;  I  mean  whether  Y  or  T  connections 
are  generally  used,  and  why  one  has  the  advantage 
over  the  other  ?  I  have  generally  understood  that  a 
Y  branch  is  not  so  liable  to  clog  as  a  T,  but  I  heard 
lately  that  a  T  makes  a  better  connection.  Do  you 
know  of  any  sewerage  system  where  house  connec- 
tions have  been  made  with  T  branches  ?" 

[For  pipe  sewers  the  general  practice  is  to  use  Y 
branches,  as  offering  the  least  resistance  to  flow  and 
possible  clogging.  The  best  practice  contemplates 
the  use  of  a  one-eighth  bend,  with  the  Y  branch,  the 
same  as  in  house  drainage.  On  large  brick  sewers 
in  the  combined  system  T  connections  are  often 
used.] 


AN    EXPERIENCE  WITH    SEWER    GAS   DUE 

TO  THE  CLOSING  OF  THE  TOP  OF 

THE    SOIL    PIPE    BY  FROST. 

H.  B.  in  the  Toronto  Globe  writes: 

"  I  think  my  experience  lately  in  regard  to  sewer 
gas,  if  it  is  generally  known,  will  put  all  persons  on 
their  guard,  and  be  the  means  of  diminishing,  if  not 
totally  preventing,  typhoid  and  other  similar  fevers 
in  the  winter  season. 

"The  facts  are  these:  My  house  has  a  bath  and 
water-closet  connected  with  a  cesspool  in  my  garden, 
and  I  have  taken  every  precaution  to  prevent  any 
foul  smell  coming  into  the  house,  and  have  been 
successful,  except  on  a  few  occasions  in  the  winter, 
and  I  could  not  discover  the  reason  until  recently. 


AMERICAN   PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


231 


During  the  recent  cold  snaps  with  the  wind  from 
the  east  and  northeast  the  sewer  smell  in  my  bath- 
room was  intolerable.  And  I  consequently  made 
up  my  mind  that  it  was  caused  by  some  recent 
obstruction  m  some  of  the  escape  pipes.  In  my 
quandary  I  went  on  the  roof  of  the  house  to  examine 
tne  ventilating  pipes,  and  found  the  ventilating  pipe 
from  the  water-closet  completely  filled  up  with  hoar- 
frost and  ice.  I  immediately  emptied  a  kettle  of  hot 
water  down  the  pipe,  and  at  once  the  smell  disap- 
peared and  the  bathroom  was  as  sweet  as  could  be; 
but  on  came  another  cold  snap,  and  on  again  came 
the  smell  of  sewer  gas,  and  I  found  again  the  venti- 
lating pipe  filled  up  with  hoar-frost  and  ice  as  before, 
and  immediately  it  was  thawed  out  the  smell  went 
away,  and  as  there  has  been  no  very  cold  weather 
since,  I  have  had  no  more  trouble.  Now.  sir,  it 
strikes  me  that  if  the  moist  gas  from  a  private  house 
connected  with  a  cesspool  is  sufficient  to  cause  the 
complete  freezing  up  of  the  ventilating  pipe,  how 
much  more  likely  must  be  the  pipes  in  a  city  like 
Toronto,  where  the  amount  of  moist  gas  escaping 
must  be  enormous,  and  I  have  no  doubt  the  ventilat- 
ing pipes  are  often  frozen  up  the  same  as  I  have  de- 
scribed, and  this  should  put  every  person  on  the 
alert  to  examine  their  escape  pipes  and  keep  them 
clear  of  ice." 

[The  above  letter  to  the  Toronto  Globe  relates  an 
experience  to  which  we  have  often  called  attention. 
It  was  this  contingency  that  induced  us  long  since  to 
advise  that  the  end  of  soil  pipes  should  be  open, 
without  bends,  hoods,  caps,  or  cowls  of  any  kind,  and 
in  cold  latitudes  that  the  smaller  pipes  should  be  en- 
larged from  the  roof  upward  to  at  least  4  inches  in 
diameter,  and  more  if  experience  indicated  it  to  be 
necessary  in  a  particular  locality.] 


Residences,"  by  E.  S.  Philbrick,  reprinted  from  this 
journal,  and  in  William  Paul  Gerhard's  little  book 
(Van  Nostrand's  Science  Series)  on  "The  Disposal  of 
Household  Wastes."] 


DISPOSAL  OP   HOUSE  WASTE   IN  TIGHT 
CLAY  SOIL. 

E.  W.  L  ,  Troy,  N.  Y.,  writes: 

'•  Please  refer  me  to  articles  in  THE  ENGINEERING 
RECORD,  which  I  have  from  the  beginning  of  its 
publication,  covering  the  subject  of  sewage  disposal 
like  the  instance  1  have  in  hand. 

"  The  lot  is  300  fee.t  front  by  about  800  feet  deep, 
and  the  greater  part  inclines  upward  from  the  front 
about  i  foot  in  10,  and  at  the  ridge  the  house  stands. 
There  is  no  creek  nor  any  sewer  to  which  house 
drains  can  possibly  be  connected,  the  location  being 
quite  outside  of  the  village  limits.  The  soil  is  8  feet 
and  4  feet  deep  on  the  rock,  and  is  all  very  compact 
clay.  In  half  a  dozen  places  I  caused  test  holes  to  be 
dug,  and  all  filled  with  water  in  24  hours,  which  later 
somewhat  decreased  in  depth;  but  they  always  con- 
tain more  or  less  water. 

"  It  is  desired  to  put  in  complete  bathroom  accom- 
modations and  water  supply  to  the  house.  I  think 
the  only  course  is  to  build  tight  cesspools.  But  I 
prefer  to  ascertain  if  similar  difficulties  have  received 
consideration  in  your  paper." 

[From  the  facts  given  it  would  seem  that  tight 
cesspools  will  have  to  be  relied  on  and  the  expense 
of  pumping  them  out  incurred,  though  the  depth  of 
the  lot,  800  feet,  will  probably  allow  for  good  sized 
ones,  or  several.  The  water  may  also  be  utilized,  in 
some  degree,  in  the  garden.  If  first  expense  be  no 
important  consideration,  a  sufficient  amount  of  clay 
might  be  removed,  specially  prepared  soil  substituted, 
and  the  subsurface  irrigation  system  adopted.  This, 
with  suitable  soil,  is  the  best  thing  to  do.  It  is  de- 
scribed fully  in  "The  Disposal  of  Sewage  in  Suburban 


THE  USE  OF  GREASE  TRAPS. 
A  MEM.  Am.  Soc.  C.  E.,  New  York,  writes: 
"  In  your  opinion,  is  a  grease  trap  an  absolute  ne- 
cessity in  a  well-planned  drainage  system  for  a  coun- 
try house,  and  if  so,  why  not  equally  necessary  in  a 
city  house,  where  the  horizontal  run  from  the  kitchen 
sink  to  the  sewer  is  80  or  oo  feet?  Most  country 
houses  have  a  grease  trap  close  to  the  house.  Granted 
the  necessity  of  the  grease  trap,  why  should  this  be 
nearer  the  house  than  the  sewer  in  the  city  ?  Granted 
the  necessity  of  the  grease  trap,  what  is  the  extreme 
distance  from  the  house  at  which  it  may  be  placed, 
and  sewer  properly  ?  Is  it  not  as  objectionable  as  a 
cesspool,  and,  with  subsoil  irrigation  to  avoid  the 
latter,  do  we  remove  the  danger  it  the  grease  trap  re- 
mains ?  Do  you  know  of  any  case  where  flush  tanks 
have  been  used  without  grease  traps  or  settling 
basins,  the  house  sewage  draining  to  the  flush  tanks 
direct,  and  being  disposed  of  immediately  ?  " 

[The  necessity  for  using  a  grease  trap  depends  on 
several  things:  First,  the  probable  amount  of  greasy 
water  disposed  of  in  a  kitchen;  second,  the  distance 
the  greasy  water  must  flow  to  reach  the  sewer  or 
cesspool;  and  third,  the  length  of  soil  pipe  or  earthern 
drain  that  may  be  buried  in  the  ground. 

A  grease  trap,  like  other  traps  used  in  drainage, 
must  be  considered  as  a  compromise;  in  other  words, 
it  is  used  to  prevent  a  greater  evil.  A  small  family, 
keeping  one  or  two  servants,  may  safely  dispense 
with  one,  but  when  a  number  of  servants  are  em- 
ployed, and  much  cooking  is  done,  and  in  a  country 
house,  where  the  waste  water  must  pass  through 
pipes  buried  in  the  ground  where  the  greasy  water 
will  be  rapidly  chilled,  we  should  advise  the  use  of  a 
grease  trap. 

In  a  city  house,  as  in  New  York,  for  instance,  the 
average  distance  of  the  sewer  from  the  kitchen  sink 
is  about  90  feet,  but  for  60  feet  of  this  distance  the 
hot  greasy  water  flows  through  an  exposed  and  ac- 
cessible iron  pipe  in  a  cellar  which,  during  the  winter 
months,  when  the  house  is  occupied,  is  warm,  so  that 
the  water  is  not  chilled,  and  grease  precipitated  until 
it  reaches  the  sewer.  Besides,  in  properly  planned 
work,  cleanouts  are  provided  for  the  removal  of  ob- 
structions. If  a  grease  trap  is  placed  within  a  hou?e, 
the  grease  should  be  removed  from  it  every  few  days 
and  before  it  becomes  putrid,  otherwise  cleaning  it 
is  a  very  offensive  operation.  A  grease  trap  should 
be  located  nearer  the  house  than  the  sewer,  and  as 
near  the  source  of  the  grease  as  circumstances  will 
permit,  taking  into  account  the  offensive  smells  when 
grease  is  removed.  In  country  houses  they  are  usu- 
ally located  in  a  vault  just  outside  the  house. 

From  the  point  of  view  of  the  householder,  if  all 
the  grease  could  reach  the  sewer  no  grease  trap 
would  be  needed.  On  the  other  hand,  a  town  pro- 
vided with  small  pipe  sewers  is  liable  to  find  trouble 
from  stoppages  from  this  cause.  We  believe  that 
Mr.  E.  W.  Bowditch,  of  Boston,  has  recommended 
towns  where  he  has  designed  a  small  pipe  sewer  sys- 


232 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


tern,  that  they  require  grease  traps  when  houses  are 
within  50  feet  of  sewers,  but  when  the  private  drain 
is  more  than  50  feet,  to  leave  it  optional,  relying  on 
the  grease  to  precipitate  in  the  drain  and  not  reach 
the  sewer.  A  grease  trap  is  not  as  objectionable  as 
a  cesspool,  since  itis  not  supposed  to  receive  any  thing 
but  greasy  water,  and  is  intended  to  be  frequently 
cleaned. 

We  do  not  recall  any  place  where  house  sewage  is 
delivered  to  a  flush  tank  and  periodically  discharged 
from  it  into  a  sewer,  and  should  consider  such  use  of 
a  flush  tank  objectionable.  This  of  course  does  not 
apply  to  disposal  by  subsurface  irrigation,  where  a 
settling  basin  and  flush  tank  are  required.] 


THE   PROPER  SIZE   FOR  A  HOUSE  SEWER. 

A.  J.  C.,  Binghamton,  N.  Y.,  writes: 

"In  planning  a  house  which  I  am  building,  the 
architect  has  designed  to  use  a  house  sewer  only  6 
inches  in  diameter.  I  claim  that  nothing  smaller 
than  an  8-inch  sewer  should  be  used.  In  the  house 
in  which  I  now  live  there  is  an  8-inch  sewer  which  is 
frequently  obstructed,  causing  expense  and  annoy- 
ance Both  architect  and  plumber  are  against  me  in 
this  matter.  Who  is  right  ?  " 

[If  the  house  sewer  is  for  sewage  which  will  come 
to  it  through  properly  set  and  flushed  fixtures  and 
storm  water,  the  architect  and  plumber  are  right;  if 
it  is  for  old  cans,  ashes,  shoes,  rags,  and  broken 
dishes,  you  are  right,  though  you  will  only  be  right 
a  short  time,  unless  you  make  the  sewer  large  enough 
to  allow  a  cleaner  to  enter  and  remove  the  accumu- 
lation of  insoluble  matter  with  which  it  will  soon  be 
choked.  A  6-inch  sewer  should  be  large  enough  for 
any  private  residence  in  the  country,  provided  it  is 
properly  laid,  with  the  right  material,  has  the  right 
kind  of  bends  and  connections,  a  proper  pitch,  and  is 
sufficiently  flushed.  It  must  also  be  understood, 
however,  that  only  soluble  matter  should  be  allowed 
to  enter  the  sewer.  We  know  of  a  large  i6-room  city 
house  which  has  but  a  4-inch  drain  inside  and  a 
5-inch  sewer  from  the  house  to  the  main  sewer. 
This  sewer  is  over  100  feet  long.  The  house  has 
been  occupied  10  years,  and  so  far  the  sewer 
has  not  failed  to  perform  its  functions.  The 
house  has  seven  water-closets,  four  bathtubs,  five 
washstands,  laundry  tubs,  slopsinks,  china  sink, 
kitchen-sink,  etc.  In  this  case  the  owner  was  willing 
to  pay  a  fair  price  and  left  the  entire  matter  in  the 
hands  of  the  architect,  who  in  turn  gave  his  instruc- 
tions to  a  competent  plumber,  who  carried  out  the 
details.  A  small  sewer,  sufficiently  large,  will  scour, 
the  flow  of  water  and  matter  being  more  confined 
and  rapid.  A  larger  sewer  induces  a  sluggish  move- 
ment, tending  to  convey  only  the  fluids  and  dissolving 
matters.  The  others  remain  to  adhere  and  clog  and 
eventually  to  choke  the  sewer.] 


VENTING  TRAPS   INTO   FRESH-AIR  INLET. 
CHARLES  O'GRADY,  Marlboro,  Mass.,  writes: 
"I  send  sketch  of  a  plumbing  job  of  two  water- 
closets  in  a  basement,  and  one  sink  on  the  first  floor. 
1  have  back- vented  the  water-closets  into  the  foot 
vents.     Is  there  any  objection  to  doing  so? " 


[Figure  i  shows  our  correspondent's  sketch.  The 
practice  of  venting  fixture  traps  into  the  fresh-air 
inlet  (foot  vent)  is  not  to  be  recommended.  The 
fresh-air  inlet  if  open  in  the  sidewalk  is  liable  to 
become  choked,  in  which  case  the  traps  are  not  pro- 
tected. Circulation  of  air  through  the  vent  pipes  is 
more  liable  to  take  place  if  the  vent  pipes  are  con- 
nected with  a  long  upcast  pipe  to  the  roof.  Dis- 
charge from  fixtures,  as  shown  in  Fig.  i,  would  tend 
to  cause  an  out-draft  in  the  foot  vent,  while  the 
traps  would  need  an  in-draft  to  prevent  syphonage 
and  the  vent  currents  would  be  working  against  each 
other.  Other  faults  in  your  design  are:  i  The 


FIG.  1 


FIG.  2 


_3 


fresh-air  inlet  (foot  vent)  opens  too  close  to  the  house. 
2.  The  basement  closets  appear  to  be  in  the  center  of 
the  house.  They  should  have  direct  light  and  ven- 
tilation through  outside  windows.  3.  The  main  trap 
cleanout  should  be  on  the  house  side  of  the  trap  If 
the  cleanout  cover  is  not  tight  and  leaks,  air  from  the 
house  drain  is  preferable  to  air  from  the  sewer. 
Figure  2  shows  an  improvement  on  your  design, 
with  some  slight  economy  in  piping.  The  bottom  of 
the  2-inch  pipe  A  opens  directly  into  the  crown  of  the 
trap,  so  that  rust,  scale,  etc.  will  be  washed  out  by 
the  water-closet  discharge.  The  pipe  B  should  be 
given  a  sharp  angle  so  that  dirt  and  rust  will  run 
down  the  pipe.  The  upcast  pipe  C  should  at  its  upper 
end  be  well  removed  from  bedroom  windows.  Brass 
cleanouts  should  be  used  at  the  points  D  D.] 


SIZE  OF  PIPE  REQUIRED  TO  DRAIN  A 
FIELD. 

RODMAN  SANDS,  New  York,  writes: 

"  Will  a  12  inch  earthen  pipe  be  large  enough  to 
carry  off  the  water  from  a  stone  drain,  2  feet  square 
and  700  feet  long  ?  The  drain  is  simply  a  ditch  2  feet 
deep  and  2  feet  wide,  filled  with  stones  and  covered 
over. 

"  I  can  give  the  earthen  pipe  a  fall  of  about  5  feet 
in  700. 

"  The  field,  which  is  700  feet  square,  floods  in  rainy 
weather,  and  now  takes  from  three  days  to  a  week  to 
run  off,  and  I  want  to  keep  it  dry  all  the  time  if  pos- 
sible. " 

[A  12-inch  pipe  would  carry  off  the  equivalent  of 
about  one  third  of  an  inch  of  rainfall  per  hour  on  the 
area  to  be  drained.  Ordinarily,  this  would  keep  the 
field  dry,  but  in  very  heavy  rainstorms  there  would 
be  flooding  of  the  field.  A  2o-inch  pipe  would  insure 
perfect  drainage.] 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


233 


TRAPS  AT  FOOT  OF  LINES   OF  SOIL   PIPE. 

PLUMBER,  of  Pottsville,  Pa  ,  writes: 

"  Inclosed  please  find  rough  sketch  of  county 
grounds  and  buildings  to  show  drainage  system. 
The  dotted  lines  show  new  connections,  ink  circles 
show  perpendicular  run  of  soil  pipe  to  be  put  in  new. 
All  places  marked  '  inlets  '  are  not  trapped,  but  those 
marked  '  trap '  are  inlet  traps.  The  size  of  drain  is 
marked  on  same.  The  creek  is  open  and  very  sel- 
dom gets  as  high  as  drain  pipe.  The  drain  is  salt- 
glazed  terra-cotta  pipe. 

"  What  I  want  to  know  is  this:  I  have  the  con- 
tract to  do  new  work,  and  the  architect  has  specified 
running  traps  at  the  bottom  of  all  lines  of  soil  pipe 
with  air  vent  and  to  continue  the  same  to  roof  of 
buildings,  each  fixture  to  be  trapped  and  ventilated. 

"  Now  I  claim  that  the  best  way  would  be  to  leave 
out  the  running  traps  and  connect  direct  to  drain; 
and  that  all  foul  air  would  at  once  escape  above 
buildings  and  that  the  running  traps  only  form  a 
cushion  whenever  any  of  the  fixtures  are  used,  and 
forms  foul  air  out  ot  fresh-air  supply.  Am  I  not 
right  ?  By  answering  the  above  you  will  confer  a 
favor." 

[As  we  understand  the  case  from  your  description 
and  sketch  we  concur  in  your  opinion,  that  traps  at 
foot  of  lines  of  vertical  pipes  are  objectionable.  The 
trap  should  preferably  be  on  each  drain  where  it 
leaves  the  building,  with  a  suitable  fresh-air  inlet.] 


FROZEN  ROOF  CONDUCTOR  PIPES. 

T.  M.  G.,  Cleveland,  O.,  writes: 

'  •  Each  winter  we  have  great  trouble  with  our  pipes 
for  conducting  the  storm  water  from  the  roof  to  sewer. 
They  seemed  to  begin  to  freeze  at  the  foot  of  the  pipe, 
after  some  stoppage  which  we  cannot  account  for, 
as  we  keep  our  roof  clean.  They  will  then  fill  to  the 
top  of  the  pipes,  overflowing  and  forming  threaten- 
ing and  dangerous  icicles,  or  making  a  disagreeable 
dripping,  generally  most  annoying  in  the  afternoon. 
Each  spring  we  have  to  replace  those  pipes  or  pay 
large  repair  bills,  many  of  the  seams  and  joints  being 
found  burst.  Our  roof  is  of  tin  with  a  pitch  of  one- 
half  inch  to  i  foot.  Our  engineer  suggests  that  we 
write  you  on  the  subject  in  the  hope  that  you  may 
suggest  a  remedy." 

[Your  complaint  is  a  very  common  one  in  cold  cli- 
mates, and  is  especially  common  in  New  York  in  the 
winter.  The  fact  that  the  dripping  begins  generally 
ic  the  afternoons  is  because  by  that  time  the  steam 
heat  in  your  building  (we  assume  you  have  steam 
heat,  as  you  refer  to  your  engineer)  has  begun  to 
affect  the  snow  and  ice  on  your  roof  by  passing 
through  the  wood  sheathing  and  tin,  which  have 
been  frozen  hard  by  the  colder  air  of  the  night.  This 
action  is  accelerated  by  the  sun's  rays,  if  the  temper- 
ature is  above  the  freezing  point. 

If  unobstructed,  the  water  will  fall  through  the 
conductor  pipe  to  the  sewer  or  outlet,  as  it  cannot 
freeze  while  in  rapid  motion,  or  when  the  air  is  at  a 
temperature  that  will  allow  of  thawing.  Here  this 
water  comes  in  contact  with  the  cast-iron  or  earthen 
sewer  pipe  imbedded  in  the  earth  or  stone  sidewalk, 
which  is  surrounded  by  all  the  influences  of  frost, 
and  which  has  the  nucleus  of  an  ice  formation  in  the 
hoar  frost  on  the  inside,  the  result  of  warmed  damp 
air  ascending  and  condensing  its  moisture,  which  is 
readily  frozen.  This  operation  continues  until  the 
pipes  are  entirely  closed.  Then  the  pipe  will  gradu- 


ally fill  to  the  first  relief  point,  and  if  the  pipe  has 
been  made  perfectly  tight  it  will  freeze  to  the  top. 
The  practice  of  making  these  pipes  tight  is  wrong,  as 
loose  fitting  joints  united  only,  will  allow  the  water 
to  escape  when  it  fills  to  them. 

The  most  certain  and  direct  cure  for  your  trouble 
would  be  to  have  large  conductor  pipes  placed  on  the 
inside  of  your  building,  where  they  will  be  removed 
from  the  influences  of  frosty  blasts  or  frozen  outlets. 
But  in  this  case  it  should  he  of  extra-heavy  cast-iron 
pipe  with  leaded  joints  to  prevent  sewer  gases  or 
odors  from  entering  the  building.  This  is  the  prac- 
tice adopted  for  public  building  and  business  struct- 
ures. The  pipes  should  be  in  recesses  and  accessible 
for  repairs. 

If  you  cannot  change  your  conductors,  see  that  the 
snow  is  removed  from  the  roof  before  it  has  had  time 
to  freeze  to  the  tin.  This  will  help  you,  save  when 
there  is  a  cold  rain  or  sleet  storm.  A  sure  method 
to  keep  the  pipes  open  without  regard  to  the  severity 
of  the  frost  is  to  enter  a  steam  pipe  with  jet  end  at 
the  lowest  accessible  point  of  the  leader,  arranged 
with  a  swivel  joint,  so  that  the  jet  may  be  turned  up 
when  desired  to  clean  the  pipe,  or  downwards  when 
not  in  use,  when  it  will  not  become  filled  with  water 
and  freeze.  A  valve  at  a  convenient  point  under  the 
charge  of  your  engineer  will  enable  him  to  use  it  as 
his  judgment  dictates  in  thawing  the  ice  or  frost.] 


TO   PREVENT  TAR-COATING   FROM   SHOW- 
ING  THROUGH  PAINT  ON  SOIL  PIPES. 
HARTFORD,  CONN.,  April  10,  1886. 
SIR:    One  way  to  prevent  discoloration  of  paint 
over  tarred  pipe  is   to    paste  firm,   non-absorptive 
paper  over  the  pipe  and  then  apply  the  color. 

M.  P.  HAPGOOD,  Architect. 


ARRANGING  FRESH-AIR  INLETS  TO  PRE- 
VENT FREEZING  OF  TRAPS, 
R.  HADDOW,  Winnipeg,  Man.,  writes: 
"  With  reference  to  the  correspondence  on  fresh-air 
inlets  in  THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD,  the  experience 
of  another  plumber  in  Winnipeg  might  not  be  out  of 
place.  Bearing  in  mind  that  the  thermometer  goes 
down  to  40  degrees  and  50  degrees  below  zero,  I 
never  have  found  a  single  instance  wherein  a  fresh- 
air  inlet  froze  over  with  hoar  frost  with  properly  ad- 
justed drain  and  soil  pipes.  I  think  Mr.  Hughes 
must  be  making  a  mistake,  because  it  is  not  the  fact 
of  cold  air  rushing  in  a  pipe  that  freezes  up  the  mouth 
of  the  pipe;  it  is  the  warm  vapor  coming  out  of  the 
soil  pipe  at  top  that  freezes  up  But  even  that  I  be- 
lieve can  be  obviated,  by  enlarging  the  pipe  at  its 
terminus,  and  have  as  little  pipe  as  possible  after  go- 
ing through  roof,  leaving  mouth  of  pipe  clear  and 
open. 

"  But  the  greater  trouble  of  all  with  us  is  to  get  a 
fresh-air  inlet  that  will  not  freeze  up  the  main  trap, 
and  that  I  think  you  cannot  have  where  you  eater 
your  pipe  immediately  over  the  trap.  Mr.  McAr- 
thur's  idea  of  the  cold  air  striking  the  bend  before 
entering  the  trap  I  fail  to  see,  because  the  cold  air 
never  has  time  to  strike  on  that  point,  from  the  fact 
that  the  suction  of  the  soil  pipe  is  so  great.  If  it  was 
forced  in,  then  it  would  be  another  thing.  I  think  it 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


it  is  more  from  the  fact  that  he  put  the  inlet  further 
from  the  trap  than  it  was  before  that  kept  it  from 
freezing,  so  that  I  think  by  haying  as  much  fresh-air 
inlet  pipe  inside  of  house  (as  is  workable  according 
to  circumstances)  as  possible,  and  entering  one  or 
even  two  lengths  of  soil  pipe  from  trap,  will  keep  the 
trap  from  freezing.  I  use  generally  2-inch  pipe  and 
carry  it  7  or  8  feet  up  the  wall;  this  is  to  prevent  it 
getting  covered  over  with  snow.  These  few  remarks 
are  drawn  from  practical  experience." 

[Letters  based  on  experience  are  always  welcome. 
Our  correspondent  seems  to  indorse  the  views  fre- 
quently expressed  as  to  location  of  fresh-air  inlets  in 
cold  climates.] 


with  the  emanations  from  whatever  filth  may  have 
been  left  in  the  drain  from  the  previous  summer's 
occupancy. 


BACK  PRESSURE  IN  A  SEASIDE  COTTAGE 
DRAIN. 

COTTAGER,  New  York  City,  writes: 

"  I  have  hired  a  cottage  for  the  summer  close  to 
the  shore,  where  the  tide  rises  or  falls  7  or  8  feet. 
The  waste  from  the  kitchen  sink  and  water-closet  is 
carried  in  a  drain  of  earthen  or  iron  pipe  some  ways 
down  the  beach  to  about  half-way  between  high  and 
low  water,  where  it  terminates  in  a  hole  filled  with 
loose  stones.  This  is  not  exactly  in  front  of  the 
house,  and  as  it  is  well  washed  out  with  salt  water 
twice  every  day  it  does  not  seem  to  be  objectionable. 
The  other  night,  however,  happening  to  be  in  the 
kitchen  when  the  house  was  quiet,  my  attention  was 
attracted  by  a  bubbling  in  the  trap  of  the  sink,  which 
I  at  first  could  not  understand,  until  I  remembered 
that  the  tide  was  about  three-quarters  high  and 
rising,  and  concluded  that  perhaps  the  rising  water 
was  forcing  the  air  out  ot  my  drain  though  the  trap. 

"  I  would  like  very  much  to  know  if  you  think  my 
conjecture  correct,  and  if  you  consider  the  inflow  of 
air  from  such  a  drain  as  likely  to  be  dangerous,  and 
what  is  the  best  way  to  prevent  it." 

[From  our  correspondent's  account  we  have  no 
doubt  that  his  conjecture  is  correct;  certainly  the 
cause  he  suggests  is  abundantly  able  to  produce  the 
effect  which  he  describes,  and  no  other  seems  prob- 
able. 

The  remedy  is  very  simple:  a  hole  in  the  drain 
pipe  anywhere  above  high  water  mark,  even  if  only 
big  enough  to  admit  a  lead  pencil,  will  relieve  the 
confined  air  and  avoid  the  trouble;  the  only  points  to 
be  observed  in  making  such  a  vent  are  to  place  it 
where  it  will  not  be  liable  to  become  obstructed,  and 
where  the  escaping  air  will  not  be  an  annoyance  or 
danger  to  anyone. 

As  to  the  danger,  it  is  hardly  probable  that  under 
the  conditions  described  the  sewage  would  have 
sufficient  opportunity  to  become  putrid,  and  give  off 
unwholesome  exhalations,  and  seaside  cottages,  dur- 
ing the  time  of  their  occupancy,  usually  have  doors 
and  windows  so  widely  open  that  such  exhalations 
would  be  very  greatly  diluted;  still  it  is  much  better 
to  be  on  the  safe  side,  and  even  if  it  should  be  safe, 
it  certainly  is  not  nice  to  have  such  vapors  pumped 
into  one's  house  twice  a  day. 

Perhaps  the  most  objectionable  feature  of  the  ar- 
rangement is  that  in  winter,  when  the  traps  dry  out 
for  lack  of  use,  or  are  emptied  to  prevent  freezing, 
then  unless  the  drain  is  closed  in  some  way,  the  air 
from  it  has  free  access  to  the  house,  the  tide  main- 
taining a  forced  circulation,  so  that  the  whole  build- 
ing has  a  chance  to  become  pretty  well  saturated 


VENTILATION  OF  A   SOIL  PIPE. 

D.  G.  ADELSBERGER,  Baltimore,  Md.,  writes: 

"  I  have  a  contract  for  plumbing,  etc  ,  etc.,  of  the 
university  now  building  at  Washington  City.  Mr. 
E.  F.  Baldwin  (who  is  the  architect  and  one  of  your 
subscribers)  and  myself,  have  had  a  consultation 
about  the  construction  of  the  soil  and  vent  pipes  for 
water-closets,  etc.,  etc.  He  has  an  opinion  one  way, 
and  I  another,  so  we  agree  to  write  to  you  for  ^our 
opinion.  Inclosed  is  a  sketch  showing  the  soil  pipe 
running  the  highest  at  ridge  of  roof,  and  traps  of 
closets  all  emptying  into  it  and  vent  pipe  the  lowest 
which  would  cause  a  current  of  air  to  come  down  the 
vent  pipe  and  follow  the  water,  etc.  from  the  clcjets. 
and  vent  the  closet  pipes  and  syphon  up  the  soil  pipe 
at  highest  point  and  make  current  of  air  circulate 
down  the  lowest  or  shortest  pipe  and  up  the  longest. 

"  Now  suppose  the  soil  pipe  to  be  placed  where  the 
vent  pipe  now  is  and  would  thus  be  the  shortest,  and 
place  the  vent  pipe  where  the  soil  pipe  now  is  and 
reverse  the  closet  pipes  and  run  them  into  the  short- 
est pipe,  the  water  from  the  closets  and  traps  would 
t~:3n  run  into  the  shortest  pipe,  thereby  running 
against  the.  current  of  air  coming  down  the  short 
pipe.  I  say  coming  down  the  short  pipe  because  it 
would  not  do  otherwise  according  to  natural  philoso- 
phy, the  other  pipe  being  the  highest  would  cause  the 
current  of  air  to  come  down  the  shortest  and  lowest 
and  go  up  the  highest  pipe  which  would  be  the  water 
from  closets  running  against  the  current  of  air. 

"  Will  you  please  give  me  your  opinion  on  the  sub- 
ject, which  plan  will  ventilate  the  pipes  best  ?" 

[We  have  reproduced  the  sketch  as  sent,  which 
shows  no  traps,  although  they  are  mentioned  in  the 
letter. 

Our  correspondent  is  mistaken  in  supposing  that 
the  air  will  necessarily  flow  down  the  shorter  and  up 
the  taller  pipe. 

The  strength  of  a  draft  of  a  chimney  or  any  other 
flue  is  proportional  as  much  to  its  temperature  as  to 
its  height,  and  in  this  case  in  whichever  pipe  the 
product  is  the  greater  of  its  height  multiplied  by  the 
number  of  degrees  that  it  is  warmer  than  the  outside 
air,  the  draft  will  be  the  stronger  and  the  air  will 
flow  up.  So  that  in  this  case  if  the  shorter  pipe  is 
enough  warmer  the  air  in  it  will  flow  up  and  draw 
down  in  the  taller.  If  two  pipes  or  flues  are  equally 
high  and  warm  no  current  will  start,  but  if  started  it 
will  continue,  because  the  descending  current  will 
cool  one  flue,  and  being  somewhat  warmed  before  it 
escapes  from  the  other  the  difference  of  temperature 
necessary  for  the  flow  will  be  maintained. 

If  the  pipes  shown  in  the  sketch  are  all  equally 
warm  the  air  will  circulate  as  our  correspondent 
supposes. 

The  discharge  from  the  water-closets  will  not,  we 
think,  materially  affect  the  flow  of  the  air  in  the  pipes 
above  the  highest  range.  When  one  or  the  upper 
closets  discharges,  it  will  for  the  moment  reverse  the 
currents  of  air  in  all  the  pipes  below  it,  but  they  will 
resume  their  normal  direction  as  soon  as  the  flow  has 
passed.  A  discharge  from  one  of  the  lowest  closets 
would  accelerate  the  air  currents  in  the  lower  part  of 
the  vertical  pipes,  but  would  probably  reverse  the 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


235 


currents  in  the  upper  cross  pipes  and  produce  little  if 
any  effect  above  them.  A  discharge  from  the  middle 
range  would  produce  a  combination  of  these  two 
results. 

If  it  were  possible  to  get  a  fresh-air  inlet  at  any 
point  below,  a  much  more  efficient  ventilation  could 
be  obtained. 


If  the  lower  inlet  cannot  be  had,  the  arrangement 
shown  is  perhaps  the  next  best  thing,  and  we  do  not 
think  it  makes  much  difference  which  way  the  closets 
discharge  as  far  as  the  ventilation  is  concerned,  as 
the  effect  of  their  discharge  will  be  only  local  and 
temporary. 

It  should  be  remembered  that  in  taking  in  fresh  air 
from  above,  the  two  pipes  act  as  flues  pulling  against 
each  other,  and  only  the  difference  of  their  respec- 
tive drafts  is  available  for  ventilation.] 


OBSTRUCTION  OF  A  VENT  PIPE. 
Y.  N.  S.,  West  Newton,  Mass.,  writes: 
"A  peculiar  case  of  obstruction  of  a  4-inch  vent 
pipe  was  brought  to  my  notice  to  day.  It  was  novel 
to  me  and  may  be  of  interest  to  others  of  your 
readers.  According  to  the  rules  of  the  Board  of 
Health,  a  soil  pipe  in  the  City  Hall  was  extended  full 
size  (4  inches)  through  the  roof  several  years  ago. 
In  order  to  get  around  roof  timbers  the  stack  was 
carried  horizontally  for  a  few  feet  under  the  roof, 
then  by  a  quarter-turn  was  passed  through  the  roof 
by  a  hub  into  which  the  flashing  was  turned,  and  a 
3-foot  length  of  pipe  calked  in  the  arrangement  being 
shown  by  the  accompanying  sketch.  Recently  this 


piece  A  rusted  off  and  fell  over  into  the  snow  guard. 
When  the  plumbers  went  up  to  replace  it,  they  found 
the  section  of  pipe  B  passing  through  the  roof 
cracked,  and  in  removing  it  found  the  quarter  bend 
C  at  the  bottom  entirely  closed  with  rust.  The  hori- 
zontal section  D  laid  over  some  ceiling  joists,  and 
from  appearances  may  have  had  a  slight  fall  towards 
the  rusted  elbow,  but  certainly  not  sufficient  to  hold 
much  water.  It  would  seem  as  if  the  small  amount 


of  rain  that  from  time  to  time  fell  in  the  open  end 
caused  the  rust  to  start,  and  as  there  was  never  any 
flow  to  carry  it  off  or  scour  the  pipe,  it  gradually  ac- 
cumulated till  it  closed  the  pipe.  This  winter  snow 
accumulated,  melted,  and  finally  the  water  thus 
formed  froze  and  cracked  the  pipe. 

"  This  shows  the  great  objection  to  any  horizontal 
runs,  especially  above  fixtures  on  a  soil  pipe  where 
there  will  be  no  flushing,  and  that  especially  near  the 
roof  outlet  where  direct  run  is  not  practicable,  one- 
eighth  bend  should  be  used." 

[Such  stoppage  from  accumulations  of  scale  rust 
are  frequent  in  badly  planned  work  in  both  vent 
pipes  and  extensions  of  soil  and  waste  lines  above  the 
highest  fixture  connections.  But  it  can  be  entirely 
prevented  by  following  the  New  York  regulations  on 
this  point  that  all  such  pipes  where  offsets  are  re- 
quired must  be  run  at  an  angle  not  greater  than  45 
degrees  .with  the  vertical,  or  in  othef  words,  one- 
eighth  bends  must  be  used  instead  of  one-quarter 
bends.  At  this  angle  the  scale  rust  will  slide  down 
and  be  washed  away.  It  seems  difficult  to  make  some 
workmen  comprehend  that  a  vent  pipe  through 
which  no  water  runs  ought  to  have  a  much  greater 
pitch  than  is  necessary  for  w:.ste  pipes.  There  is  no 
excuse  for  this  defect  in  modern  work,  and  such 
arrangements  of  piping  have  not  been  permitted  in 
New  York  for  some  years.  The  work  described  was 
certainly  not  "  according  to  Board  of  Health  rules," 
as  we  know  them.] 


TRAPS  ON  HOUSE  DRAINS. 

WALTER  H.  RICHARDS,  Engineer  Sewer  Depart- 
ment, New  London,  Conn.,  writes: 

"After  reading  the  discussion  recently  published  in 
THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD  regarding  the  propriety 
of  dispensing  with  a  trap  between  the  house  and  the 
main  sewer,  it  appears  that  a  plain  statement  of  the 
whole  question  is  desirable.  It  is  well  known  that  a 
current  of  air  through  all  sewers  is  desirable,  and  is 
conceded  by  all  to  be  necessary  in  the  house  pipes. 
A  more  complete  ventilation  of  the  street  sewers  can 
be  secured  by  omitting  the  trap  and  ventilating 
through  the  house.  A  more  complete  ventilation  of 
the  house  pipes  can  be  secured  with  the  trap  and 
fresh-air  inlet.  A  partial  ventilation  of  the  street 


236 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


sewers  may  be  obtained  by  perforated  manhole 
covers,  and,  if  the  sewers  are  reasonably  well  built 
and  flushed,  this  without  offense  or  danger  to  the 
community. 

"In  some  cases,  and  possibly  in  all  cases,  if  plumb- 
ing and  traps  were  perfect  and  could  be  kept  so,  the 
trap  on  the  .main  drain  could  be  omitted  without 
danger  arising  from  the  fact  that  by  so  doing  all 
houses  on  a  line  of  sewer  are  connected  together. 
The  question  is  then  a  practical  one.  Can  the  house 
plumbing  be  always  perfect  ?  With  the  most  careful 
planning  traps  sometimes  syphon  or  the  water  in 
them  evaporates  because  of  non-use  of  fixture,  and 
with  the  most  thorough  inspection  plumbing  is  some- 
times defective  or  becomes  so  after  inspection.  A 
thoroughly  constructed  system  of  sewers  may  suffer 
from  neglect  after  a  few  years  I  think  that  the  ad- 
vantage of  cutting  off  each  building  from  the  main 
sewer  and  adjoining  buildings  and  confining  any 
danger  to  the  sewer  air  and  disease  germs  in  the 
building  itself,  more  than  compensates  for  a  more 
thorough  ventilation  of  the  main  sewers  or  for  the 
slight  saving  in  expense  effected  by  omitting  the 
trap." 


AS   TO   MAIN    HOUSE   TRAPS  AND   SEPAR- 
ATE  SEWER   CONNECTIONS. 
MR.    O.    P.  DENNIS,  office  of   Proctor  &   Dennis, 
architects    and    superintendents,   .Tacoma,   Wash., 
writes: 

"  I  wish  to  ask  you  a  question  or  two,  trusting  you 
will  give  me  the  desired  information. 

"  First,  I  will  state  our  city  plumbing  ordinance 
provides  that  there  shall  be  no  running  trap  (or  any 
other  kind)  in  sewer  or  soil  pipe  between  street 
sewer  and  fixtures  in  house  (that  is  not  mentioning 
traps  connected  with  fixtures).  But  the  ordinance 
provides  that  conductors  from  the  roof  must  connect 
with  the  sewer.  This  I  think  all  right.  What  I 
wish  to  know  is  if  it  is  not  better  to  have  a  running 
trap  at  a  point  just  outside  of  the  building,  and  then 
at  a  point  between  sewer  and  trap  connect  the  con- 
ductor pipe.  Lastly,  what  are  the  rules  in  New 
York  City  in  regard  to  making  sewer  connections 
for  a  double  building,  or  rows  of  connected  houses  ? 
Is  it  the  custom  to  make  separate  connections,  or  is 
one  connection  allowed  for  two  or  more  where  they 
are  owned  by  the  same  owner  ? " 

[As  often  explained  in  these  columns,  it  is  safer  to 
place  the  main  trap  on  the  house  drain  between  the 
sewer  and  the  house  system  either  just  outside  or 
inside  of  the  house  wall,  as  may  be  most  convenient. 
A  running  trap  is  not,  however,  a  good  form  of  trap. 
It  is  better  to  use  a  half-S  trap  with  a  tee  branch,  so 
that  the  bottom  of  the  inlet  is  a  few  inches  above  the 
water  seal  in  the  trap.  (See  illustration  on  page  218 
of  "  House  Drainage  and  Plumbing  Problems.")  If 
it  is  desired  to  ventilate  the  town  sewers  by  pipes 
running  up  on  the  outside  ot  the  house  walls,  the 
leaders  from  the  roof  may  be  connected  outside  of 
this  main  trap.  These  pipes,  however,  should  be  of 
cast  iron  and  made  perfectly  tight,  especial  care 
being  taken  that  no  leakage  of  gas  can  occur  near 
windows. 

The  regulations  of  New  York  require  that  each 
house  shall  have  a  separate  sewer  connection.  This 
is  a  wise  provision,  and  should  be  insisted  on  every, 
where.  This  regulation  is  without  regard  to  the 
size  of  the  house,  and  is  intended  to  protect  each 
householder,  so  that  no  single  householder  who  may 
keep  his  drains  in  order  shall  be  subject  to  annoy- 


ance or  risk  from  the  negligence  of  any  other  house- 
holder. It  is  also  a  wise  provision,  from  the  fact, 
that  though  one  owner  may  build  several  adjoining 
houses,  they  usually  in  time  become  the  property  of 
different  owners.] 


TRAPS  ON  HOUSE  DRAIN  AT  NEWTQN, 
MASS. 

T.  M   CLARK.  Boston.  Mass.,  writes: 

"  I  should  like  to  know  how  long  it  is  since  the 
health  authorities  of  Newton,  Mass.,  began  to  dis- 
courage the  use  of  house  traps,  as  your  Pittsburg  cor- 
respondent states  in  your  issue  of  December  2,  1893 
Five  years  ago  I  built  two  houses  in  that  town.  I 
agree  with  you  in  every  point  on  the  subject  of  house 
traps,  believing  that,  with  good  plumbing  inside,  a 
detached  country  house,  draining  only  into  its  own 
cesspool,  is  better  off  without  a  main  trap,  which  is 
sure  sooner  or  latter  to  be  stopped  with  grease  or 
rags,  and  flood  the  basement  with  sewage.  Accord- 
ingly I  laid  the  drains  of  these  houses  without  main 
traps.  The  Board  of  Health  made  a  complaint 
against  me,  and  although  they  were  polite  enough 
to  consider  the  arguments  that  I  submitted  to  them, 
compelled  me  to  dig  up  the  drains,  and  put  in  main 
traps,  both  of  which  have  since  been  choked  with 
rags  so  as  to  discharge  the  sewage  from  the  upper 
stories  over  the  basement  floor  by  the  way  of  the 
basement  water-closet,  causing  a  great  deal  of 
trouble  in  both  houses.  Within  the  past  two  years 
the  city  sewers  have  been  begun  and  are  partly  in 
use.  Is  it  since  then  that  the  Board  of  Health  have 
begun  to  discourage  the  use  of  main  traps?  If  so  I 
shall  come  into  collision  with  them  again  if  I  build 
any  more  houses  there.  Objectionable  as  it  is  to 
have  main  traps  get  stopped,  I  consider  that  the  risk 
of  this,  where  houses  drain  into  a  sewer,  is  less  to 
be  feared  than  the  risk  of  infection  from  disease 
germs  entering  the  sewers  from  other  nouses.  I  read 
to-day  in  the  papers  that  there  was  an  epidemic  of 
scarlet  fever  and  diphtheria  in  Newton.  If  the  Board 
of  Health  has  really  encouraged  or  allowed  the  omis- 
sion of  traps  between  the  sewers  and  the  houses,  or 
schoolhouses,  I  am  not  surprised." 

[We  presume  the  regulations  were  modified  to  suit 
the  new  conditions  arising  from  the  introduction  of  a 
sewerage  system  in  1890-91.] 


TRAPS  ON  HOUSE  DRAINS  AT  NEWTON 
MASS. 

ALBERT  F.  NOYES,  West  Newton,  Mass.,  writes: 

"  In  answer  to  the  questions  asked  by  Mr.  T.  M. 
Clark  in  a  communication  headed  "  Traps  on  House 
Drains  at  Newton,  Mass.,"  as  published  in  THE  EN- 
GINEERING RECORD  under  date  of  December  16, 
1893,  I  would  state  that  your  editorial  comment  was 
correct. 

"  The  plumbing  ordinances  were  changed  so  that 
the  requirements  now  are  that  there  shall  be  a  fresh- 
air  connection  with  the  soil  pipe  and  a  running  trap 
between  it  and  the  house  drain,  except  when  con- 
nected with  a  public  sewer.  In  that  case  it  is  optional 
with  the  householder  whether  he  has  or  has  not  a 
running  trap  and  fresh-air  inlet. 

"This  recommendation  was  made  in  my  report  to 
the  City  Council  on  a  plan  for  a  system  of  sewers  for 
the  city  of  Newton,  only  after  a  very  careful  study 
of  the  best  practicable  plan  for  the  ventilation  of  the 
sewers,  and  after  receiving  the  approval  of  several 
of  the  best  sanitary  engineers  who  were  consulted 
upon  this  as  well  as  other  details  in  the  design 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


wherein  it  seemed  desirable  to  depart  from  the  com- 
mon practice. 

"  I  might  here  state  that  the  plumbing  rules  of  the 
Board  of  Health  are  very  complete  in  their  require- 
ments, and  the  plumbing  is  carefully  tested  by  the 
inspector  with  either  the  water,  smoke,  or  pepper- 
mint test,  and  a  careful  superficial  examination  of 
every  fixture  or  trap,  before  any  portion  is  covered 
up. 

"  All  traps  are  to  be  ventilated  and  all  soil  pipes 
and  vent  pipes  are  to  be  carried  full  size  through, 
and  at  least  3  feet  above  the  roof.  The  sewers  are 
carefully  laid,  so  that  every  section  between  man- 
holes can  be  and  is  frequently  inspected  by  the  use  of 
mirrors  reflecting  light  through  the  sewer  so  every 
joint  of  the  pipe  can  be  seen. 

"  With  the  conditions  as  above  described.  I  doubt 
if  Mr.  Clark  has  ever  known  of  a  case  where  there 
was  a  flow  of  air  from  the  soil  pipe  into  the  house. 
On  the  contrary,  my  experience  has  been  that  should 
an  opening  occur  in  a  ventilated  soil  pipe  the  flow  of 
air  is  invariably  into  the  pipe  and  cot  out  of  it. 

"  The  introduction  of  a  large  volume  of  fresh  air 
into  the  sewer  and  through  the  soil  pipes  creates 
conditions  not  only  unfavorable  to  the  life  and 
generation  of  disease  germs,  but  favorable  to  their 
destruction.  It  also  produces  conditions  unfavorable 
to  the  formation  of  what  may  be  known  as  sewer  gas 
in  any  condensed  or  concentrated  form.  If  the  gas 
is  created  at  all,  it  is  so  diluted  as  not  to  be  offensive 
or  dangerous  to  health. 

"  I  have  had  a  canvass  of  all  the  cases  of  scarlet 
fever  or  diphtheria  which  have  occurred  in  Newton 
as  reported  to  the  Board  of  Health  since  August  10, 
1893,  and  find  that  out  of  41  cases  of  scarlet  fever  but 
four  cases  have  occurred  in  houses  connected  with 
the  sewer,  and  out  of  25  cases  of  diphtheria  but 
two  cases  have  occurred  in  houses  connected  with 
the  sewer. 

"  The  cases  have  also  occurred  in  sections  where 
the  sewers  have  either  not  been  laid  at  all  or  laid 
this  season  only,  and  I  do  not  find  a  single  case  of 
sickness  of  a  person  attending  a  school  where  the 
fresh- air  inlet  or  running  trap  has  been  omitted." 


DOES      DISCHARGE      OF     STEAM     INTO 

EARTHEN  DRAINS  INJURIOUSLY 

AFFECT  THEM? 

W.  M.  DEXTER,  East  Providence,  R.  I.,  writes: 

"  Can  you  give  me  any  information  upon  the  effects 
of  steam  from  the  waste  of  steam  heating  (coming 
direct  from  a  steam  boiler,  pressure,  say  60  to  80 
pounds)  upon  vitrified  drain  pipe  cemented  at  joints 
thereof,  the  pressure  in  the  drain  being  from  two  to 
six  pounds,  perhaps? 

"There  is  a  manufactory  which  is  turning  steam, 
such  as  above,  directly  into  drain  pipes  with  ordi- 
nary traps,  without  trying  to  condense  same  in  water. 
Will  the  use  of  steam  in  the  manner  above  be  injuri- 
ous to  drain  pipes  in  the  long  run  or  not  ?  " 

[William  Webb,  foreman  of  the  New  York  Bureau 
of  Sewers,  has  observed  that  iron  pipes  having  steam 
discharged  into  them  become  weakened,  displaced, 
and  more  liable  to  break  and  leak,  and  that  tile  pipe 
becomes  saturated  with  moisture,  crumbles  away,  and 
breaks  easily,  and  loses  the  elasticity  and  clear  metallic 
ring  that  new  pipes  have  when  struck;  that  cement 
in  brick  sewers  is  entirely  disintegrated  by  the  action 
of  steam,  and  the  loose  brick  may  be  easily  removed, 
only  dry  sand  remaining. 

Mr.  Webb  does  not  think  the  cement  used  in  the 
joints  of  tile  pipes  is  sufficiently  exposed  to  be  injured, 
and  has  never  observed  any  indications  of  its  de- 
struction by  contact  with  steam. 


The  sewer  regulations  of  this  and  other  cities  re- 
quire that  steam  shall  not  be  discharged  into  sewers. 
Besides  the  question  of  its  effect  on  the  materials  of 
which  the  sewer  is  constructed,  the  sudden  presence 
of  it  makes  it  unsafe  for  men  to  enter  sewers  for  pur- 
poses of  inspection,  and  the  smell  in  them  is  rendered 
much  worse  than  it  otherwise  would  be.] 


ARRANGEMENT  OF  TRAP  VENTS. 

G.  F.  J  ,  Denver,  Colo.,  writes: 

"Will  you  kindly  settle  a  question  in  dispute.  I 
send  two  sketches  of  a  kitchen  sink  with  connections, 
Fig.  i.  as  placed  by  the  plumber,  Fig.  2,  as  con- 
tended by  me  to  be  better,  as  there  is  no  contraction 
in  the  size  of  pipes  when  continued  direct  as  a 
ventilating  pipe." 

[Figure  2  is  preferable.  The  bend  at  the  foot  of 
the  2-inch  vent  pipe,  as  shown  in  Fig.  i,  is  liable  to 
stoppage  from  falling  rust  if  the  pipe  is  of  wrought 
iron.  Likewise  the  bend  at  the  foot  of  the  vent  in 


Fig.  2.  although  in  this  latter  case  it  might  not  affect 
the  trap.  We  add  Fig.  3,  as  better  practice  than 
either  of  the  others.  It  will  be  noticed  that  the  Y 
branch  for  the  trap  vent  is  put  in  just  above  the 
bottom  of  the  sink,  so  that  in  case  of  stoppage  in  the 
waste  pipe  below,  it  would  be  indicated  by  the  waste 
water  not  running  off.  In  Fig.  2,  if  a  stoppage 
occurred  in  the  waste,  the  trap  could  discharge 
through  the  vent  pipe  without  its  being  known. 
The  discharge,  as  shown  in  Fig.  3,  helps  keep  the 
bend  flushed  out  and  the  cleanout  is  desirable  in 
such  positions  for  the  removal  of  obstructions.] 


RUNNING    A    VENT    PIPE    INTO    A    SMOKE 
FLUE. 

J.  REYNOLDS  &  SON,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  write: 
"  THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD  contains  an  article 
headed  '  Objections  to  Running  a  Vent  Pipe  into  a 
Smoke  Flue.' 

"  We  ventilate  apartments,  etc.  into  the  smoke 
flue,  but  not  into  a  plain  chimney.  Our  method  is 
to  run  a  cast-iron  p'ipe  from  the  cellar  to  a  few  inches 
above  the  chimney  coping  in  the  center  of  said  flue. 
For  example,  if  a  flue  measures  12x12  inches  in  the 
clear,  we  run  an  8  inch  cast-iron  pipe  for  smoke  im- 
mediately up  the  center  of  said  flue,  properly  secur- 
ing each  length  of  s-inch  by  iron  stays;  we  then  use 
the  brick  flue  surrounding  said  pipe  for  the  introduc- 
tion of  all  ventilating  ducts.  It  works  like  a  charm 
and  there  is  no  conflict." 

[In  this  case  the  smoke  flue  is  an  iron  pipe,  and 
the  brick  flue,  possibly  built  for  a  smoke  flue,  is 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


made  to  serve  the  purpose  of  a  ventilating  flue. 
There  are  doubtless  many  cases  where  the  conditions 
were  favorable,  and  satisfactory  results  were  secured, 
yet  it  might  be  well  to  consider  a  variety  of  condi- 
tions where  satisfactory  results  would  not  be  secured. 
We  therefore  should  not  advise  laying  down  hard 
and  fast  rules  in  an  ordinance  to  cover  all  cases. 

Vent  pipes  from  the  bowls  or  seats  of  water-closets 
can  pretty  safely  be  connected  with  any  warm  flue 
in  the  walls  of  a  building,  provided  said  flue  is  used 
for  no  other  purpose  and  connected  with  no  other 
flue,  unless  under  conditions  mentioned  below. 

When  the  waste  heat  from  a  furnace  or  boiler 
chimney  is  carried  through  an  iron  pipe  within  a 
flue,  the  flue  becomes  an  aspirating  shaft,  and  into 
it  the  water-closet  rooms  may  be  ventilated;  but 
should  there  be  another  vent  shaft  in  the  building, 
then  the  object  of  the  separate  vent  shaft  for  the 
closets  might  be  vitiated,  and  the  necessity  for  bring- 
ing them  together  at  the  top  made  apparent. 

If  there  is  a  systematic  exhaust  ventilation  (by  fan 
or  aspirating  shaft)  in  the  building,  this  flue  should 
enter  the  main  outlet  duct  just  below  the  fan,  if  one 
is  used,  and  pretty  near  the  top  of  the  heated  aspir- 
ating shaft — certainly  above  all  other  ventilating 
flues  to  the  shaft  which  lead  from  rooms.  In  such  a 
case,  presumably,  it  is  best  to  vent  the  water  closet 
room  into  the  same  flue  as  the  vent  from  the  bowl  or 
seat,  as  thereby  the  possibility  of  drawing  air  down 
one  flue  and  up  another  is  prevented,  which  might 
be  the  case  with  exhaust  ventilation  should  there  be 
two  flues  from  the  same  water-closet  room,  and  which 
in  all  probability  would  be  the  case  if  they  went 
separately  to  the  coping  or  outer  air. 

If  the  ventilation  of  the  building  is  plenum  venti- 
lation, then  the  flue,  presumably,  is  best  when  run 
to  the  atmosphere  direct,  with  a  separate  flue  for 
each  purpose,  unless  indeed  there  is  a  combined 
plenum  and  exhaust  system,  when  the  flues  are  best 
arranged  as  though  they  were  for  exhaust  ventilation 
alone. 

Houses  or  buildings  warmed  by  furnace,  taking 
air  from  outside  or  by  indirect  steam  radiation  with 
or  without  a  fan  may  be  considered  "  plenum  ventila- 
tion," while  all  warmed  by  fireplaces  or  stoves,  hav- 
ing the  air  drawn  out  of  the  rooms  by  waste  heat  or 
otherwise,  are  vacuum  or  "  exhaust  ventilation." 
With  a  condition  of  plenum  within  a  house,  chimneys 
and  flues  "  draw,"  and  all  flues  will  show  an  outward 
current  of  air  unless  they  are  proportioned  too  large. 
With  vacuum  ventilation,  if  there  is  more  than  one 
outlet  or  aspirator  (fan  or  otherwise),  the  stronger  is 
apt  to  draw  the  weaker,  and  will  do  so  unless  there  is 
means  of  admitting  air  below  or  through  windows 
sufficient  to  supply  the  outlets  which  have  power  to 
draw. 

Small  aspirating  shafts  are  made  by  providing  a 
flue  on  each  side  of  the  kitchen  range  flues,  and 
boiler  and  furnace  flues,  with  partitions  of  one  brick 
between,  or  by  using  earthen  or  iron  pipe,  or  special 
earthen  flues  with  partitions,  within  a  large  brick 
flue. 

The  cast-iron  pipe  within  a  flue  makes  the  best 
aspirating  shaft,  but  we  know  of  a  case  where  a 


building  was  so  tight  that  the  air  to  supply  the  boiler 
furnace  was  drawn  down  the  aspirating  shaft,  up 
which  the  very  same  boiler  smoke  pipe  ran,  until 
the  boiler  was  supplied  with  air  directly  from  the 
outer  air. 

In  our  modern  kitchens  it  now  and  then  happens 
that  the  flue  running  parallel  with  the  range  flue  for 
the  purpose  of  drawing  the  hot  air  and  fumes  of 
cooking  from  the  range  under  the  hood,  works  the 
wrong  way;  in  fact,  cold  air  comes  down  to  supply 
the  fire  unless  a  window  or  door  is  open,  some  of  the 
buildings  being  so  air-tight.  In  such  a  case  it  would 
not  be  a  good  thing  to  have  water  closets  vented  into 
the  same  flue.J 


THE    BACK-VENTING    OF    CLOSET    TRAPS. 

CANADIAN,  Berlin,  Ont..  writes: 

"  In  a  small  house  the  plumbing  fixtures  usually 
consist  of  a  bath  and  closet  upstairs  and  a  kitchen 
sink  down  stairs.  The  traps  of  the  bath  and  sink  are 
usually  required  to  be  vented,  but  is  there  any  valid 
reason  why  the  closet  trap  should  be  vented?  Even 
if  the  bath  waste  were  connected  with  the  lead  bend 
under  the  closet,  which  is  not  now  considered  good 
practice,  the  discharge  from  the  bath  would  hardly 
cause  the  closet  trap  to  syphon,  and  of  course  the  dis- 
charge from  the  sink  below  cannot  affect  the  water 
in  the  closet  trap  when  the  soil  pipe  is  continued 
through  the  roof.  A  vent  to  the  closet  trap  would 
hardly  be  required  to  prevent  it  syphoning  itself  dry 
while  being  discharged;  that  would  scarcely  be  possi- 
ble with  a  4  inch  trap  and  a  i-^-inch  supply,  so  that 
I  am  at  a  loss  to  know  why,  here  in  Canada,  we  have 
not  in  the  market  a  single  porcelain  washout  closet 
without  a  horn  for  the  trap  vent." 

[There  are  undoubtedly  cases  where  fixtures  are 
few  in  number,  and  their  relative  position  and  partic- 
ular connections  to  the  soil  such  as  to  make  back- 
ventilation  of  traps  an  unnecessary  precaution,  but 
the  cases  where  back  venting  can  be  omitted  with 
safety  are  so  rare  and  the  uncertainty  of  how  the 
traps  may  be  affected  is  so  great  that  the  rule  for  the 
greatest  safety  to  the  greatest  number  must  govern, 
and  back-venting  be  considered  a  factor  of  safety 
well  worth  introducing  into  the  work.  It  is  like  all 
generalizations  not  applicable  or  requisite  for  certain 
isolated  cases.  It  has,  however,  value  for  air  circula- 
tion and  ventilation  aside  from  the  mere  protection 
of  the  trap  against  syphonage,  but  in  the  case  cited 
these  considerations  do  not  appear  to  apply. 

Referring  to  your  immediate  inquiry,  the  form  of 
closet  and  its  relation  to  soil  pipe  and  the  method  of 
venting  the  soil  pipe  at  the  roof,  would  have  some 
influence  on  the  question  of  syphonage.  We  have 
seen  the  seal  of  hopper  water-closet  traps  affected 
by  a  strong  wind  blowing  across  the  open  end  of  the 
soil  pipe.  The  actual  seal  of  water  in  the  trap  is 
about  \y2  or  2  inches,  representing  a  pressure  of  1.15 
ounces  per  square  inch.  The  atmospheric  pressure 
is  2.40  ounces  per  square  inch,  and  any  influence  in- 
creasing the  pressure  1.15  ounces  on  one  side  of  the 
trap  or  reducing  it  1.15  ounces  on  the  other  would 
unseal  the  trap.  The  conditions  are  so  delicately 
balanced  that  special  circumstances  of  construction 
would  outweigh  theoretical  considerations.  A  prac- 
tical test  repeated  under  various  conditions  of  atmos- 


AMERICAN   PLUMBING    PRACTICE. 


239 


phere,  coincident  discharge  of  fixtures,  etc  ,  would 
best  answer  your  question  for  the  particular  case 
named  It  has  been  found  experimentally  and  in  a 
vast  field  of  practice  that  back-venting  properly  done 
practically  insures  the  seal  of  the  trap,  and  as  a 
matter  of  insurance  the  outlay  incidental  to  it  seems 
to  be  well  invested  against  the  hazard.] 


WHICH  IS  THE  BEST  METHOD  OF  CON- 
NECTING HOUSE  DRAIN  TO  SEWER. 

JAY,  of  Riverside,  Cal.,  writes: 

"  This  city  is  provided  with  a  system  of  pipe  sewers 
ia...ff  ni>  in  «ize  from  6-inch  to  12-inch.  Flush  tanks 
on  laterals  Main  sewer  flushed  from  canal  every 
week  in  addition.  Rainwater  excluded.  Manholes 
with  perforated  covers  at  interval?  As  I  understand 
it,  there  are  the  following  well- defined  methods  of 
making  house  connections,  it  being  understood  tnat 
the  house  drain  is  extended  through  the  roof  in  all 
cases:  (i)  Having  no  trap  on  the  hou»e  dram,  and 
ventilating  the  public  sewer  through  it;  (2)  having  a 
trap  outside  the  building  and  a  fresh-air  inlet  on  the 
house  side  of  the  trap;  (3)  same  as  (2),  but  having,  in 
addition,  a  ventilating  pipe  extending  from  a  point 
between  the  trap  and  main  sewer  to  a  point  above 
the  roof  outside  the  building. 

"  Will  you  kindly  tell  me  which  of  these  three 
methods  would  be  considered  preferable  in  the  case 
of  a  system  of  sewers  such  as  I  have  described  1  The 
practice  here  heretofore  has  been  No.  3,  but  there 
are  not  many  buildings  plumbed  that  way.  The 
plumbers  favor  No.  i,  while  I  might  favor  No.  2 
under  other  circumstances;  here,  however,  we  have 
many  detached  closets  and  sinks  in  which  any  other 
method  than  No.  i  is  hardly  practicable.  The  climate 
is  semi-tropic,  and  all  houses  are  well  ventilated  by 
open  doors  and  windows,  and  there  are  few  large 
buildings." 

[In  our  opinion,  the  choice  lies  between  systems  i 
and  2.  We  have  usually  preferred  No.  2,  simply  be- 
cause an  ideal  condition  of  the  sewers  of  the  average 
town  cannot  be  permanently  depended  <*~.] 


ARTIFICIAL  HEAT  IN  VENT  PIPES. 
H.  G.,  Melbourne,  Victoria,  Australia,  writes: 
"  Referring  to  your  answer  to  a  correspondent  yon 
say  that  you  prefer  artificial  heat  for  local  ventilation. 
Where  should  a  gas  jet  be  inserted  to  give  the  best 
results?     Would  it  answer  just  as  well  if  it  is  put  in 
the  upcast  pipe  on  the  bottom  floor  or  any  of  the 
intermediate  floors,  and  would  not  an  atmospheric 
burner  be  the  best  to  use,  as  they  give  off  a  much 
greater  heat  ?" 

[As  the  efficiency  of  ventilation  by  artificial  heat 
depends  mainly  upon  the  height  of  the  column  of 
heated  air,  it  is  obviously  important  to  put  the  burner 
or  other  source  of  heat  as  low  as  possible,  for  the 
same  reason  that  a  fire  in  the  basement  usually  draws 
much  better  than  one  on  the  top  floor. 

As  to  the  use  of  an  atmospheric  or  Bunsen  burner, 
we  should  say  that  provided  the  gas  is  completely 
consumed,  which  is  the  case  when  the  flame  is  clear 
and  smokeless,  it  makes  little  or  no  difference  what 
kind  of  a  burner  is  used,  the  total  heat  resulting 
from  the  combustion  will  be  the  same. 

The  ordinary  burner  is  more  readily  obtained  and 
has  the  incidental  advantage  that  its  light  shows 
more  plainly  than  the  other  whether  it  is  burning  or 


not.  I"  if  true  that  it  radiates  more  heat  than  the 
Bunsen  burner  and  that  the  heat  thus  radiated  is 
most  of  it  lost  as  far  as  heating  the  sir  currents  is 
concerned,  but  we  should  not  think  the  difference 
sufficient  to  warrant  any  extra  trouble  or  expense  in 
procuring  atmospheric  burners 

The  ordinary  burner  is  very  easily  made  into  an 
atmospheric  one  by  slipping  over  it  a  slightly  tapered 
sleeve,  say  3  inches  long  and  enough  larger  than  the 
burner  to  permit  a  current  of  air  to  flow  up  all  around 
it,  the  upper  and  smaller  end  of  the  sleeve  extending 
slightly  above  the  top  of  the  burner.  Such  an  attach- 
ment, called  "  Dare's  burner,"  is,  or  was,  patented 
in  this  country  and  could  probably  be  obtained  of  any 
dealer  in  gas  fixtures. 

Our  correspondent  could  readily  determine  the 
relative  efficiency  of  different  burners  in  producing 
air  currents  by  a  very  simple  experiment  whose  re- 
sults we  should  be  pleased  to  learn  and  publish. 
Let  nim  place  in  or  over  the  outlet  of  his  vent  pipe, 
or  in  any  place  where  it  can  be  seen  and  at  the  same 
tmit>  moved  by  the  current  of  heated  air,  a  wheel  of 
thin  metal,  pasteboard,  or  even  of  paper,  then  if  he 
will  count  the  number  of  turns  it  makes  in  say  one 
minute  with  each  kind  of  burner,  he  will  learn  which 
of  them  gives  the  strongest  draft.] 


METHOD  OF  TESTING  PLUMBING  IN 
MINNEAPOLIS. 

WE  are  indebted  to  Mr.  J.  M.  Hazen,  Assistant 
Plumbing  Inspector  at  Minneapolis,  Minn.,  for  a  blue- 
print of  an  apparatus  he  has  designed  for  testing  soil 
and  waste  pipes,  from  which  the  following  illustration 
is  made.  Mr.  Hazen  describes  his  apparatus  and  his 
method  of  making  a  test  as  follows: 

To  prepare  new  work  for  this  test,  all  the  iron  soil 
and  ventilation  pipes  must  be  roughed  in,  running 
trap  and  fresh-air  inlet  included.  If  the  water- 
closets  have  a  trap,  then  calk  in  a  4-inch  lead  bend; 
otherwise,  calk  in  the  lead  trap  and  solder  a  piece  of 


APPARATUS   FOR   TESTING   SOIL   PIPES. 

heavy  sheet  lead  over  the  top.  Wipe  on  the  trap 
ventilation  and  connect  with  vent  pipes.  Calk  in 
ferrules  in  all  openings  for  waste  or  ventilation,  with 
a  short  piece  of  lead  pipe  wiped  on.  Pinch  these 
ends  and  solder  them.  If  the  ventilation  connects 
with  stack  before  reaching  the  roof,  then  you  only 
have  to  close  the  bottom  and  top  of  stack,  put  the 
proving  apparatus  on  the  fresh-air  inlet,  and  apply 
the  test, 


240 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


Thus  \ve  have  the  whole  system  of  plumbing  under 
test  at  the  same  time.  Whereas,  if  only  the  soil  pipe 
were  tested,  there  are  yet  three  joints  to  make  for 
every  fixture,  which  will  never  be  under  proper  test. 
Instead  of  a  short  piece  of  lead  waste  or  vent  pipe 
being  calked  in,  I  would,  if  circumstances  would  ad- 
mit, connect  up  the  entire  waste  with  trap  attached, 
take  out  the  crown  vent  and  connect  it  with  main 
ventilation  pipe.  Then,  if  the  work  stands  a  pressure 
of  10  pounds  to  the  square  inch,  and  holds  up  to  that, 
it  is  absolutely  tight  beyond  question,  for  all  fixtures 
that  go  on  are  outside  of  the  traps,  now  under  test. 

I  consider  10  pounds  air  pressure  ample  test  for 
ordinary  plumbing.  If  the  work  stands  at  that 
pressure,  it  will,  as  a  rule,  stand  15  or  more. 

I  was  told  at  first  that  cast-iron  soil  pipe  could  not 
be  calked  with  lead  and  oakum,  to  stand  an  air 
pressure  of  TO  pounds,  but  that  theory  has  vanished, 
and  good  workmen  have  no  trouble  in  making  their 
work  as  tight  as  a  glass  bottle.  The  greatest  danger 
is  in  calking  around  brass  ferrules,  and  great  care 
should  be  taken  lest  they  "  buckle  in." 

To  test  a  job  of  plumbing  with  the  proving  ap- 
paratus, in  the  absence  of  a  three-eighths  nipple  to 
connect  the  rubber  hose  to,  it  is  necessary  to  havo  a 
2  or  4-inch  iron  plug  with  iron  gasket  to  fit  on  the 
shoulder  of  the  pipe  in  the  hub  "F,"  held  in  place  by 
a  clamp  over  the  end  of  the  hub,  with  a  set-screw  in 
the  center  to  screw  down  on  the  plug.  Into  one  side 
of  this  plug,  screw  in  a  short  nipple  and  cock  "  G." 
To  attach  a  hose  from  the  pump  close  cock  "  D  "  and 
open  cock  E.  Work  the  pump  until  the  gauge  C 
shows  five  pounds  pressure,  then  close  cock  E.  If 
the  work  is  absolutely  tight  the  indicator  will  remain 
at  five  pounds;  if  defective  the  indicator  will  go 
down.  Now  unscrew  tap  of  ether  cup  B;  open  cock 
D  and  let  the  pressure  off  from  the  pipe;  close  cock 
D;  put  one  ounce  of  ether  in  the  cup;  screw  oil  cap; 
open  cock  D,  to  let  the  ether  down,  and  at  the  same 
time  begin  to  work  the  pump;  close  cock  D;  pump 
up  to  five  pounds  pressure,  and  close  cock  E.  The 
ether  will  indicate  where  the  leaks  are,  which  the 
plumber  will  at  once  calk  tight.  Test  the  work  again 
at  10  pounds  pressure,  and  if  the  indicator  stands  at 
that  the  work  is  absolutely  tight. 

To  test  the  pump,  put  on  10  pounds  pressure,  close 
cocks  G  and  E,  and  if  the  indicator  stands  the  pump 
is  tight.  A  little  soap  and  water  put  on  the  leaky 
joints  with  a  brush  will  show  the  exact  location  of  a 
leak  by  the  formation  of  bubbles.  Plumbers,  archi- 
tects, and  builders  here  are  perfectly  satisfied  with 
its  ability  to  make  a  thorough  test.  That,  together 
with  its  simplicity,  commends  it  at  once. 


JOINING  AN  IRON  AND  EARTHENWARE 
DRAIN. 

DEPARTMENT  OF  PUBLIC  WORKS, 

CITY  ENGINEER'S  OFFICE, 
DULUTH,  MINN.,  November  25,  1892. 

Tc  the  Editor  of  THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD. 

SIR:  Will  you  please  discuss  in  your  department  of 
"  Notes  and  Queries,"  the  different  methods  of  join- 
ing a  6-inch  tile  house  drain  to  a  4-inch  iron  soil 
pipe,  such  as  the  introduction  of  the  end  of  the  soil 


pipe  a  foot  or  so  into  the  tile  and  cementing  well  out- 
side, use  of  a  tile  reducer  6  inches  to  4  inches,  use  of 
an  iron  reducer  6  inches  to  4  inches,  use  of  a  4-inch 
iron  "double  hub,"  fitting  into  the  body  of  the  6-inch 
tile  pipe,  and  any  other  methods  which  you  may 
know  of,  giving  the  advantages  and  disadvantages  of 
each,  with  your  judgment  as  to  the  best  method 

X. 

[In  answering  our  correspondent's  inquiry  we  shall 
assume,  to  prevent  any  misunderstanding,  that  by 
"  soil  pipe  "  he  means  the  main  drain  of  cast-iron  pipe 
inside  the  house  walls,  receiving,  through  various 
branches  the  drainage  from  all  the  plumbing  fixtures 
and,  as  a  rule,  running  horizontally  for  a  greater  or 
less  distance  through  the  cellar  before  passing  out  at 
the  front  wall.  This  main  pipe  is  in  New  York  known 
technically  as  the  "house  drain,"  to  distinguish  it 
from  the  vertical  lines  called  "soil"  and  "waste 
pipes,"  and  also  from  the  continuation  of  the  main 

A 


Section  C-D.       FIG. 5 


drain  outside  the  house  and  extending  to  the  public 
sewer,  which  is  known  as  the  "  house  sewer."  The 
"house  drain,"  whether  above  or  below  the  cellar 
floor  should  always  be  constructed  of  iron  pipe  carried 
through  and  several  feet  beyond  the  house,  vault,  or 
area  wall.  From  this  point  hard,  salt  glazed  earthen- 
ware pipe  may  be  safely  used  under  proper  condi- 
tions as  to  foundation,  etc.  If,  however,  the  practice 
in  Duluth  corresponds  more  nearly  to  that  of  Chicago 
than  New  York,  and  the  "  house  drain,"  as  defined 
above,  is  commonly  laid  with  earthenware  pipe,  so 
that  the  connections  in  question  are  made  inside  the 
house,  we  should  answer  that  such  arrangement,  is  no 
longer  considered  good  practice  in  this  country,  the 
safe  rule  being  to  use  only  iron  pipe  within  the  walls 
of  a  building. 

Presuming,  therefore,  that  it  is  the  connection  of  a 
cast-iron  "house  drain  "  with  the  earthenware  drain 
outside  the  walls,  the  accompanying  sketches  will  ex- 
plain the  methods  suggested  by  our  correspondent. 
In  Fig.  i  the  end  of  the  4-inch  extra-heavy  cast-iron 
pipe  is  introduced  into  the  earthen  pipe  for  any  de- 
sired distance  and  the  space  above  the  iron  pipe  and 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


241 


the  entire  hub  carefully  filled  with  good  cement 
mortar.  This  gives  an  easily  made  and  strong  con- 
nection, with  a  good  and  fairly  continuous  line  of 
flow,  and  applicable  to  all  cases  where  the  iron  is  at 
least  one  size  smaller  than  the  earthen  pipe.  The 
objection  that  the  pipes  are  not  properly  centered 
seems  of  little  practical  importance.  It  may  be 
noted  in  passing  that  under  ordinary  conditions 
either  the  iron  pipe  would  be  larger  or  the  tile  smaller 
than  those  given  in  the  inquiry. 

Figure  2  shows  an  earthenware  "  increaser,"  with 
the  connection  made  between  pipes  of  the  same  di- 
ameter. However,  as  the  earthen  hub  is  much 
larger  than  a  corresponding  one  of  iron,  there  is 
always  a  danger  that  the  unskilled  workman  will  lay 
the  pipes  as  indicated  in  Fig.  5,  where  the  discharge 
will  be  partially  obstructed  by  the  projection  of  the 
earthen  pipe  above  the  line  of  flow,  even  if  no  burr  of 
cement  has  been  left  inside  the  pipes.  In  addition 
to  this,  the  ordinary  earthenware  hub  is  not  deep 
enough  to  make  a  very  strong  cement  joint  with  iron 
pipe.  The  "increaser  "  is,  of  course,  simply  another 
length  of  earthen  pipe,  which  it  might  perhaps  be  in- 
convenient to  set  at  a  proper  distance  beyond  the 
walls. 

Figure  3  is  a  cast-iron  "reducer"  calked  on  the 
end  of  the  4-inch  iron  pipe  and  cemented  into  the  hub 
of  the  6- inch  tile.  Though  more  expensive  in  labor 
and  material,  there  seems  to  be  little  advantage  in 
this  method,  while  there  are  the  possible  objections 
noted  in  Fig.  5,  and  also  a  greater  difficulty,  because 
of  the  reducer,  in  removing  any  cement  which  may 
be  forced  inside  the  pipe  in  making  the  joint. 

In  Fig.  4  a  4-inch  iron  "  double  hub  "  has  been 
used,  as  suggested,  giving  a  connection  similar  to 
that  in  Fig.  i,  but  at  an  increased  expense.  T-o  do 
this,  however,  the  so-called  "standard"  or  light- 
weight cast-iron  pipe  must  be  used,  as  this  fitting  in 
the  "  extra-heavy"  grade  measures  about  6%  inches 
outside.  The  former  grade  of  pipe  has  been  very 
generally  discarded  in  favor  of  the  heavier  and 
safer  material  which  is  now  commonly  required  by 
the  city  plumbing  regulations  throughout  the  country. 
It  is,  however,  quite  possible  to  modify  this  method 
by  calking  a  ring  of  s-inch  iron  pipe  on  the  end  of 
the  4-inch  so  as  to  make  the  pipes  more  nearly  con- 
centric when  introduced  into  the  body  of  the  tile. 
This  would  make  a  good  connection  with  slightly 
more  labor  than  No.  i. 

All  things  considered,  therefore,  it  would  seem  that 
the  method  shown  in  Fig.  i,  while  apparently  less 
careful  and  accurate  than  the  others,  will  under  the 
ordinary  conditions  of  careless  workmanship  and  the 
like,  give  a  thoroughly  good  and  strong  connection 
at  a  less  expenditure  of  time  and  material  than  with 
any  of  the  others  suggested.] 


SUBSOIL  DRAINAGE  OF  HOUSE  FOUNDA- 
TIONS. 

THOMAS  LLOYD  BETTON,  of  Kansas  City,  Kan., 
writes: 

' '  In  preparing  plans  of  foundation  for  a  building  we 
have  arranged  drain  tile  running  around  foundation. 
Tile  is  hubless,  such  as  is  used  on  farms  for  draining 


farm  land.  It  runs  about  8  inches  above  footing, 
and  the  architect  wishes  us  to  connect  same  to  sewer, 
which  has  to  convey  water  from  two  water-closets, 
two  washstands,  two  bathtubs,  two  sinks,  as  you 
will  see  it  shown  connected  in  our  plan.  We  say  it 
is  not  proper  to  connect  it  to  main  sewer,  for  in  case 
trap  should  become  stopped  up  in  any  way  every- 
thing from  house  would  be  forced  back  into  the  hub- 
less  tile,  and  would  be  the  means  of  saturating  the 
ground  around  building  before  it  would  be  discov- 
ered. Please  give  us  your  opinion  as  to  whether 
the  tile  should  be  laid  above  or  below  footing." 

[Two-inch  cylindrical  land  tiles  with  slip  collar 
joints  should  be  used  with  Y  branches  and  curved 
pieces  for  change  in  directions.  The  tiles  should  be 
placed  on  a  plank  bottom  laid  to  grade  of  about  6 
inches  in  100  feet.  The  invert  of  the  tile  should  be 
level  with  the  bottom  of  the  footing  course  at  the 
front  of  the  house  (or  at  the  point  of  discharge  of  the 
tiles),  and  should  rise  in  both  directions  from  this 


k-0'.il 


'Manhole 


FIG. 


From  Rain  Leader 
SUBSOIL  DRAINAGE  OF  HOUSE  FOUNDATIONS. 

point  to  a  "  summit "  at  the  back  (or  opposite  side)  of 
the  house.  Care  should  be  taken  to  prevent  mud 
from  flowing  into  the  drains  while  being  laid.  The 
joints  in  the  tile  are  sometimes  made  with  cloth  or 
tar  paper  wrapping  instead  of  slip  collars.  It  is  a 
good  plan  to  fill  in  the  trench  with  broken  stones  to 
a  depth  of  6  inches  over  the  pipe  and  to  cover  this 
with  salt  hay  or  straw  before  filling  in  the  earth. 
The  outside  wall  of  the  house  should  be  thoroughly 
plastered  and  troweled  smooth  with  Portland  cement 
mortar  (i  to  2)  and  allowed  to  set  before  the  tile  is- 
laid.  This  plaster  coat  should  extend  from  an  inch, 
or  two  above  the  surface  of  the  ground  to  the  bottom, 
of  the  footing  course.  A  coating  of  bitumen  laid  on 
hot  outside  of  this  will  make  the  foundation  walls- 
doubly  proof  against  water  and  dampness.  The  dis- 
charge from  the  subsoil  drains  should  not  connect 


242 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


with  the  sewer  if  it  can  be  otherwise  disposed  of. 
In  case  it  is  impossible  to  provide  other  means  of 
draining  the  subsoil  line,  it  may  connect  with  the 
house  sewer  under  the  following  conditions: 

First  — It  must  be  independently  trapped  against 
the  entrance  of  drain  air. 

Second. — The  trap  must  be  supplied  with  water 
from  an  unfailing  source,  and  had  best  be  connected 
with  a  rain  leader  or  yard  drain.  The  ground-water 
supply  alone  should  not  be  relied  on  to  furnish  seal 
for  the  trap,  as  during  dry  seasons  the  subsoil  drains 
may  carry  no  water. 

Third. — The  subsoil  drains  should  be  effectually 
trapped  against  the  back  flow  of  sewage,  which  may 
be  occasioned  by  a  stoppage  in  the  main  drain  beyond 
the  junction  of  the  subsoil  line.  For  this  reason  it  is 
perhaps  best  to  connect  the  subsoil  line  on  the  sewer 
side  of  the  .house  drain ;  as  stoppages  in  the  main 
house  trap,  which  are  not  infrequent,  would  not  then 
affect  the  subsoil  line.  For  the  purpose  in  view,  the 
prevention  of  the  back  flow  of  sewage,  a  mechanical 
trap  with  a  floating  ball  should  be  used.  A  failure 
in  the  operation  of  the  mechanical  trap,  in  case  of 
stoppage  in  the  house  sewer  beyond  the  subsoil 
junction,  will  result  in  flooding  the  subsoil  drains 
with  house  sewage  which  is  not  liable  to  be  dis- 
covered until  some  of  the  house  fixtures  fail  to 
operate  properly  or  until  the  flooded  subsoils  become 
offensive.  This  is  a  risk  which  cannot  be  overcome, 
and  it  is  essential,  therefore. 

Fourth. — That  the  traps  be  located  where  they 
can  be  frequently  and  readily  inspected  and 
cleaned. 

A  convenient  arrangement  of  traps  to  cover  the 
points  enumerated  is  shown  in  Figs,  i  and  2,  in  con- 
nection with  which  it  will  be  noted  that,  when  work- 
ing properly,  the  trap  B  is  supplied  with  water  from 
a  yard  drain  or  rain  leader.  The  trap  C,  Fig.  3,  is  a 
ball  float  mechanical  trap-  allowing  the  subsoil  water 
to  flow  into  B,  but  preventing  back  flow  of  water  or 
sewage  when  the  ball  is  seated.  If  C  runs  dry,  B 
prevents  the  back  flow  of  drain  air,  and,  in  case  of 
the  back  flow  of  sewage,  the  first  entrance  of  sewage 
into  C  would  float  the  ball  and  seat  it.  The  rain 
leader  should  be  carried  up  with  iron  pipe  and  tight 
joints  to  the  height  of  the  fresh-air  inlet,  or  abova 
the  level  of  a  yard  drain,  so  that  sewage  backing 
into  the  leader  may  not  escape  until  it  has  found 
its  way  out  at  some  opening,  where  it  will  be  a 
nuisance  and  be  brought  to  the  attention  of  the 
householder. 

The  traps,  as  shown  in  the  drawing,  can  be  grouped 
in  an  oval  manhole  4x3  feet. 

From  what  has  been  said  it  is  evident  that  you 
were  right  in  saying  it  would  not  be  proper  to  con- 
nect the  subsoil  drain  as  shown  in  your  sketch.  The 
correct  method  of  laying  the  tile  has  been  indicated. 
If  laid  below  the  footing  course,  it  may  undermine 
it  and  crack  the  wall;  if  laid  above  the  footing 
course  it  is  not  draining  the  subsoil  to  the  greatest 
available  depth.  Plans  for  removing  ground  water 
from  a  house  to  sewer  are  also  shown  on  pages  45 
and  46  of  "  House  Drainage  and  Plumbing  Prob- 
lems."] 


CAUSE  OF  STOPPAGE  ON  A  HOUSE"  DRAIN. 
ALLAN  M.  BARROWS,  architect,  Chicago,  111.,  writes: 
'  •  Will  you  kindly  furnish  me  through  your  valuable 
journal  with  a  comment  upon  the  scheme  of  drainage 
as  shown  by  the  sketch  inclosed  and  described  here- 
in. A  contract  for  plumbing  has  been  recently  ex- 
ecuted in  a  dwelling  at  Oak  Park,  111.,  in  accordance 
with  accompanying  sketch.  A  few  days  after  its 
completion  and  during  a  heavy  rainstorm  water  was 
found  to  be  overflowing  the  basement  water-closet. 
An  examination  quickly  made  resulted  in  the  dis- 
covery that  the  running  trap  in  the  chamber  had 
been  chocked  full  of  paper;  as  also  the  vent  pipe 
from  the  trap  on  the  house  side.  The  toilet  paper 
had  accumulated  at  the  first  bend  and  the  flush  from 
one  closet  at  so  short  rise  had  failed  to  discharge  it 
past  the  seal  dip  into  the  sewer.  This  stoppage  had 
caused  the  pipe  to  fill  with  rainwater  from  the 
leader  and  back  up,  overflowing  the  closet  as  de- 
scribed. 

"The  owner  in  his  efforts  to  locate  the  blame  had 
called  upon  the  plumber,  who,  in  response  to  the 


Vertical 'Soil 'Pipe 


BASEMENT.  t>LAH        ~   -  ToS 
ot/ing  horizontal  lines  of  pipes. 

owner's  inquiries,  said  that  he  had  followed  the  ar- 
chitect's drawings  and  specifications,  which  require*! 
the  installation  of  running  trap  chamber,  vent,  etc., 
though  contrary  to  his  ideas  of  good  plumbing. 
He  further  said  that  he  deemed  a  trap  of  any  sort 
placed  in  the  soil  drain  an  unnecessary  obstruction, 
and  if  this  were  his  job  he  should  remove  the 
trap  chamber  and  all,  and  insert  in  its  place  a  straight 
section.  In  my  next  interview  with  the  owner  I  was 
subjected  to  considerable  reproach,  and  it  was  only, 
through  the  suggestion  that  for  the  present  we  re- 
move the  chief  source  of  danger  that  the  whole 
system  was  spared  destruction.  The  rainwater 
leader  was  disconnected,  and  then  I  suggested  that 
in  fairness  to  me  he  should  consult  an  expert  in  this 
matter.  Time  has  now  passed  and  he  has  failed  to 
do  this,  so  I  have  written  you  asking  your  opinion 
which  I  am  aware  he  will  consider  authoritative,  for 
my  own  justification." 

[Theoretically,  every  trap  used  is  an  obstruction, 
fixture  traps  included;  their  use  is  deemed  the  lesser 
of  two  evils.  The  position  of  THE  ENGINEERING 
RECORD  on  the  need  of  a  trap  on  main  house  drains 
is  again  explained  in  the  issue  of  December  2,  1893. 
From  the  sketch  submitted  we  should  look  for  the 
cause  of  stoppage  either  in  a  drain  laid  without 
sufficient  incline  cr  in  some  foreign  substance  caught 
or  lodged  in  the  main  trap.  Or  the  basement  closet 
may  be  set  too  low  and  be  inadequately  flushed,  or 
the  drain  beyond  the  rainwater  leader  connection 
may  be  too  small  to  serve  the  roof  area  drained  in 
case  of  a  heavy  shower.  In  that  case  there  would 
be  a  back  flow  at  the  bailment  closet.  Assuming 
that  this  is  a  case  where  a  trap  is  only  a  proper  safe- 
guard, we  should  look  for  the  trouble  then  either  in 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE, 


defective  details  of  construction,  insufficient  fall  in 
pipe  or  insufficient  size,  or  improper  use  of  the  drain, 
this  latter  a  very  common  cause  of  stoppages  in  new 
work.  We  see  no  cause  for  stoppage  in  the  general 
design  submitted,  but  prefer  a  form  of  trap  in  which 
the  drain  enters  a  little  above  the  dip.] 


DEPOSIT  OF  RUST  IN  THE    BEND  OF  A 
SOIL  PIPE. 

NEW  YORK,  April  30,  1887. 

SIR:  The  following  unusual  experience  which  came 
under  my  notice  recently  is  worthy  of  record.  The 
drainage  and  plumbing  of  a  five-story  dwelling  in  the 
city  was  submitted  for  examination  and  revision. 
There  were  two  vertical  columns  of  "  standard  "  iron 
pipe;  the  one  marked  A  in  Fig.  i  connecting  with 
bathrooms  and  sink  on  the  top  floors  was  carried  by 
a  4-inch  pipe  close  to  the  roof  and  there  pieced  out 
and  extended  above  it  by  a  3-inch  lead  pipe  drawn 
together  at  the  top  and  perforated  for  ventilation. 
The  column  B,  which  was  4  inches  at  the  base,  re- 
duced to  2  inches  for  the  top  floors,  connected  only 
with  hand-basins,  and  was  also  pieced  out  and  re- 
duced by  lead  pipe  drawn  together  and  perforated 
above  the  roof.  There  was  no  trap  on  the  main 
drain  and  no  ventilation  of  fixture  traps. 

To  "back-air"  the  traps  and  ventilate  the  drains 
two  columns  of  "extra  heavy"  3-inch  iron  pipes  were 
put  in  parallel  to  the  soil  columns  and  all  traps 
vented  into  them.  The  soil  and  back-air  columns  A, 
Fig.  2,  joined  near  the  roof  and  were  continued  by  a 
5-inch  pipe  above  it.  Column  B,  Fig.  2,  was  to  have 
been  similarly  arranged,  but  it  was  found  more  con- 
venient to  carry  the  2-inch  soil  and  3-inch  vent  above 
the  roof  independently,  each  being  increased  to  4 
inches  before  passing  out.  The  main  drain  was 
trapped  at  the  front  wall  and  vented  to  the  street. 
Upon  completing  the  work  the  smoke  test  was  ap- 
plied at  the  newly  inserted  fresh-air  inlet  at  the 
curb.  Columns  A  and  C,  Fig.  2,  filled  at  once  and 
poured  out  streams  of  smoke,  but  none  came  from  B, 
even  after  A  and  C  were  plugged  up.  Two  pails  of 
water  poured  down  B  showed  there  was  a  stoppage, 
the  water  rising  in  the  pipe  above  the  roof.  The  top 
of  the  column  was  broken  out  at  once  and  cut  down 
to  a  point  (e,  Figs,  i  and  2)  5  feet  below  where  the 
old  2-inch  pipe  had  been  increased  to  4  inches.  It 
was  then  seen  that  in  passing  through  the  top  floor 
an  1 8-inch  offset  had  been  made  with  quarter-bends. 
The  horizontal  internal  of  2-inch  pipe  at  this  point 
was  found  completely  choked  for  several  inches  with 
a  closely  compacted  mass  of  iron-rust  flakes,  which 
had  fallen  from  the  original  10  feet  of  2-inch  pipe 
above  the  elbow,  or  from  a  surface  of  about  5  square 
feet.  The  total  amount  of  rust  scales  taken  out 
weighed  something  over  a  half  a  pound,  some  of  the 
scales  being  as  large  as  a  dime.  The  pipe  did  not 
appear  seriously  corroded. 

How  long  the  pipe  had  been  choked  and  without 
ventilation  is  not  known.  The  stoppage  being  above 
the  highest  fixture,  did  not  speak  for  itself,  nor  would 
the  peppermint  test  have  necessarily  shown  it.  The 


A 

Perforated              Perforated 
Lead  Pipe.    Roof-  Lead  Pipe 

'1*6 

*f 

55 

^ 

. 

Celling 

•3"  i 

?    FIG.! 
f 

4"     •! 
^       Top  Floor 

2" 

2" 

4 

1 

4 

/p/  -Jfe/ 
v    -                  /^                     ^» 

./f 

C 

~5"                  4t 
Poof 

F 

2 

1  / 

j  / 

| 

.  Ceiling    " 
'5" 

-3" 
Top  Floor  ^ 

•*• 

i           s- 

«  ^  ^ 

.5, 

Bath  ^ 
ROOM  * 

<U                                       Q) 

-§-                       -S- 

^   FiQ.2  ^ 

^             ^ 

o 
•5- 

^ 

s 

moral  of  direct  lines  without  elbows  is  emphatic,  and 
it  is  not  improbable  that  many  of  the  roof  vents  in 
old  work  are  now  inoperative  from  the  cause  here 
discovered.  ALBERT  L.  WEBSTER. 


METHOD  OF  POURING  LEAD  IN  MAKING 
IRON  WATER-PIPE  JOINTS. 

BIG  RAPIDS,  MICH.,  April  29,  1886. 
SIR:  Will  you  please  be  kind  enough  to  inform  me 
what  will  be  the  best  material  to  use  for  running  lead 
joints  in  12  and    4-inch  iron    pipes,  such  as  water 
mains  ?     I  generally  use  putty  or  clay  for  iron  pipes 
up  to  8-inch.     I  didn't  know  but  that  they  use  some- 
thing different  for  large  water  mains  to  run  lead  in. 
Yours  truly,  C.  B. 

[The  best  practice  seems  to  be  as  follows:  For 
pipes  up  to  12  or  14  inches  diameter  a  luting  of  moist 
clay  is  used  for  covering  several  yards  of  oakum  so 
as  to  form  a  roll  for  closing  the  exterior  of  the  annular 
space  excepting  at  the  point  where  the  lead  is  to  be 
poured. 

For  larger  pipes  a  wrought-iron  clip  of  annular 
form,  hinged  at  the  bottom,  and  with  tightening 
screw  at  the  top,  is  used  for  covering  the  space.  A 
luting  of  clay  is  used  with  these,  also  for  tightness. 

In  cases  where  in  large  pipes  a  solid  joint  is  poured 
(no  oakum  gasket  being  inserted  in  the  hub)  an  iron 
ring  is  placed  inside  the  pipe  to  cover  the  joint,  and 


24-j 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


the  joint  is  calked  after  pouring  both  inside  and  out- 
side.] 


EXPANSION  OF  SOIL  PIPE  LINE. 

W.  ROGERS,  Philadelphia,  writes: 

•'  I  would  like  to  ask  a  few  question  regarding  the 
plumbing  of  tall  buildings  in  a  cold  climate  like  that 
of  Chicago.  Is  the  expansion  and  contraction  in  the 
soil  pipe  sufficient  to  break  out  a  straight  connection 
as  shown  at  B  in  the  accompanying  sketch  ?  This 
represents  one  floor  of  a  12-story  building,  the  soil 
pipe  being  about  175  feet  high,  hot  and  cold  water  to 
be  used,  and  the  plan  of  other  floors  being  identical 
with  that  shown.  Would  a  swing  joint  like  that  at  C 
be  enough  if  the  closets  were  not  fastened  to  the 
floor?  Would  two  swing  joints  be  required  if  they 
were  fastened  to  the  floor  ?  Is  there  anything  better 
for  an  expansion  joint  than  this?" 

[We  assume  that  the  inquiry  refers  to  wrought- 
iron  pipe.  A  pipe  of  this  material  175  feet  high,  ex- 
posed to  a  change  of  temperature  from  30°  Fahr.  to 


no  degrees,  or  a  difference  of  80  degrees,  would 
elongate  about  i  inch.  If  supported  at  the  bottom 
only,  the  worst  arrangement,  the  top  would  move 
through  a  space  of  i  inch  between  the  extreme  tem- 
peratures. Assuming  the  normal  temperature  to  be 
70  degrees,  there  would  be  a  movement  at  the  top  of 
the  pipe  of  one-half  an  inch  upward  and  one-half 
downward  from  the  normal  position  of  the  pipe.  If 
the  lateral  connecting  with  B  were  absolutely  rigid 
there  might  be  danger  of  splitting  B  or  springing  a 
joint.  As  a  fact,  however,  there  are  modifying  con- 
ditions. The  range  of  temperatures  assumed  is 
probably  never  experienced;  presumably  not  much 
more  than  half  the  change  in  temperatures  actually 
occurs.  The  vertical  parts  of  the  building  are  sub- 
jected to  very  much  the  same  change  in  temperature 
as  the  pipe,  and  the  vertical  parts  of  the  entire  build- 
ing move  together.  The  long  lateral  for  the  water- 
closet  branches  would  spring  enough  to  take  up  the 
movement  in  B  without  injury,  and  the  water-closet 
branches,  if  made  with  lead  bends,  as  is  customary 


and  desirable,  would  take  up  part  of  the  movement 
and  protect  the  earthenware  of  the  closets.  A  further 
protection  can  be  introduced  by  supporting  the  verti- 
cal pipe  by  a  clamp  half-way  up  the  building,  and 
allowing  the  expansion  to  move  in  both  directions- 
from  this  middle  point  instead  of  supporting  at  the 
base.  This  arrangement  reduces  the  extreme  move- 
ment at  the  ends  with  the  range  of  temperature 
noted  to  one-half  inch,  or  one-fourth  inch  up  and 
down  from  the  normal.  The  swing  joint  C  referred 
to  seems  unnecessary  if  the  laterals  are  connected 
with  a  chance  to  spring  and  the  verticals  are  hung  in 
the  center  of  the  columns.  With  the  hot-water  pipes- 
it  is  advisable  to  use  about  two  expansion  loops  or 
expansion  fittings  in  the  vertical  run.  We  note  a 
bad  rust  bend  in  the  drawing  at  the  base  of  the  vent 
pipe,  which  should  be  removed.] 


ARRANGEMENT  OF  A  GROUP  OF  CLOSETS, 
J.   W.    BARNETT,    City    Engineer,    Athens,    Ga., 
writes: 

"I  send  herewith  a  sketch  (Fig.  i)  of  a  plumbing 
job  proposed  to  be  done  for  the  University  of  Georgia 
in  this  city  and  would  like  to  know  your  idea  as  to 
the  size  of  the  main  vent.  There  will  be  u  water- 
closets  set  in  the  basement  ot  a  three-story  building, 
flushed  by  one  seven-gallon  tank  each.  It  is  quite 
probable  that  five  of  them  will  be  in  use  at  the  same 
moment.  Is  there  danger  of  syphonage  with  a  2  inch 
main  vent?" 

[Assuming  the  simultaneous  discharge  of  five 
closets  to  be  the  maximum  tax  put  upon  the  pipes 
and  that  the  individual  seven-gallon  tanks  will  empty 
in  10  seconds,  the  rate  of  discharge  of  the  five  tanks 
combined  would  be  23  cubic  feet  a  minute.  A  4-inch 
pipe  laid  with  a  fall  of  i  in  25,  or  about  one-half  of 
an  inch  to  i  foot,  will  discharge  about  30. cubic  feet  a. 
minute  with  a  velocity  of  about  6  feet  a  second  when 
running  full.  We  assume  that  the  lateral  soil  branch 
will  practically  run  full  and  that  air  must  be  supplied 
through  the  main  vent  at  the  rate  of  23  cubic  feet  per 
second.  The  area  of  a  2  inch  pipe  is  one-fourth  of 
the  area  of  a  4-inch  pipe,  and  the  velocity  of  air  in. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


245 


the  main  vent  to  supply  23  cubic  feet  a  minute  would 
be  four  times  the  velocity  of  discharge  in  the  4-inch 
branch,  or  about  24  feet  a  second,  or  1,440  feet  a  min- 
ute. The  resistance  in  a  2-inch  pipe  to  this  air  dis- 
charge is  about  one  ounce  loss  of  pressure  per  square 
inch.  The  pressure,  or  weight  per  square  inch  of  a 
•2-inch  water  seal,  is  about  one  ounce  per  square  inch. 
The  seal  would  therefore  theoretically  just  bear  the 
strain.  The  discharge  of  additional  closets  would 
theoretically  syphon  adjoining  traps.  In  practice 
there  are  other  considerations.  The  sudden  dis- 
charge of  the  closets  will  send  a  volume  of  water 
into  the  soil  branch,  which  will  act  like  a  piston  and 
compress  the  air  in  front  of  it.  This  will  find  relief 
in  the  lines  of  least  resistance,  probably  in  part 
through  adjoining  2-inch  closet  vents  and  in  part 
through  the  4-inch  soil  extension,  and  when  the  dis- 
charge is  past,  the  air  current  will  be  reversed  to 
supply  the  vacuum  at  the  closets  discharged,  and  an 
oscillatory  movement  will  follow.  In  addition  to  this, 
the  rush  of  water  will  act  on  the  ejector  principle 
and  carry  air  with  it,  and  bends  and  angles  in  the 
run  of  vents  will  retard  the  prompt  supply  of  air. 
These  unknown  quantities  modify  the  theoretical 
considerations  so  materially  that  the  sizes  figured 
can  only  be  taken  as  a  general  guide  of  minimum 
sizes.  From  experience  we  would  advise  a  s-inch 
soil  branch,  a  s-inch  soil  extension  to  the  roof,  and  a 
3-inch  main  vent,  especially  with  syphon  closets. 
The  ends  of  the  soil  branch  should  connect  with  the 
vent  main. 

Another  arrangement  is  shown  in  Fig.  2,  using 
4-inch  soil  branches  and  4-inch  soil  extension  to  the 
roof  if  a  straight  run  of  pipe  can  be  obtained.  This 
is  a  preferable  arrangement  if  practicable.] 


TROUBLE  WITH  BACK-WATER. 
H.  R.  RICHARDSON,  of  Hackensack,  N.  J.,  writes: 
"  Will  you  inform  me  of  some  way  to  prevent  back 
water  from  sewer  beside  using  a  back-water  trap  or 
valve  ?     The  accompanying  sketch  is  the  plan  of 
some  work  which  I  have  done,  and  it  gives  me  con- 
siderable trouble.     When  the  work  was  first  put  in  I 
did  not  use  the  valve  A  and  the  water  backed  up  in 
the  cellar  drain,  causing  a  considerable  nuisance.     I 
then  put  in  the  valve  A,  which  worked  very  well,  as 


nothing  but  water  passes  through  it.  But  I  still 
found  another  nuisance;  as  I  had  stopped  the  water 
from  entering  cellar  drains,  it  took  another  course, 
following  the  main  soil  pipe  and  coming  out  of  ser- 
vants' closet  C.  Now  I  thought  of  putting  another 
valve  at  B,  the  same  as  I  did  at  A,  but  as  water- 


closet  refuse  is  to  pass  through  it  I  am  opposed  to 
using  a  valve  like  A,  as  there  is  a  danger  of  its  stop- 
ping or  preventing  it  from  working.  If  you  can  in- 
form me  of  some  other  plan  you  will  confer  a  great 
favor  to  a  constant  reader  of  your  valuable  paper." 

[It  is  impossible  to  keep  back  water  out  of  a  cellar 
or  house  drain  without  the  use  of  some  sort  of  a 
valve  trap,  and  we  should  advise  the  substitution  of 
such  a  valve  for  the  running  trap  shown  on  your 
sketch  near  the  front  wall.  You  will  find  some  back- 
water traps  described  in  our  advertising  columns. 
It  is  a  mistake  to  connect  the  cellar  drains  which  are 
to  remove  ground  water  from  the  house  with  your 
sewage  drain  as  appears  to  have  been  done.  At 
seasons  when  there  is  no  ground  water  direct  com- 
munication is  made  with  sewer  pipes  and  sewage 
matter,  which  should  be  avoided.  In  "  House  Drain- 
age and  Plumbing  Problems,"  which  is  a  collection 
of  articles  from  this  journal,  you  will  see  two  plans 
illustrated  on  pages  45  and  47,  under  title  of 
"  Ground- Water  Drainage  of  Country  House,"  and 
"  Ground- Water  Drainage,  City  House,"  that  will 
suggest  a  safer  method  of  removing  ground  water. 

Finally,  cannot  your  town  authorities  prevent  the 
water  from  backing  up  in  their  sewer?  Possibly  this 
action  may  be  due  to  some  local  defect  that  could  be 
corrected.] 


246 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING    PRACTICE. 


DOMESTIC  HOT-WATER  SUPPLY  PROBLEMS. 


HOT- WATER  BOILER  WITH  HOT- WATER 
HEATING  COIL. 

A  STAUNTON,  VA.,  correspondent  sends  a  sketch  of 
a  bath  boiler,  here  reproduced,  explaining  that  in 
that  section  of  the  country  they  have  a  very  strong 
limestone  water.  What  he  wants  to  know  is  whether 
with  this  form  of  arrangement  the  stopping  up  of  the 
water-back  with  lime  will  be  prevented;  also,  whether 
the  water  in  the  boiler  can  be  heated  in  as  short  a 
time  as  in  the  ordinary  form  of  boiler;  and,  finally, 
whether  the  water  in  passing  through  A  B  will  not 
find  its  way  into  the  pipe  C. 

The  principle  of  the  boiler  is  the  same  as  that 
utilized  in  many  forms  of  water  heaters  now  on  the 
market,  the  pipes  within  the  heaters,  however,  serv- 
ing for  the  circulation  of  waste  steam  instead  of  hot 
water,  as  in  the  present  case.  These  heaters,  as  our 
correspondent  undoubtedly  knows,  all  work  more  or 
less  successfully.  In  the  particular  case  under  con- 
sideration the  water-heating  capacity,  or  the  rapidity 
with  which  the  water  in  the  boiler  D  will  be  heated 
by  the  circulation  of  hot  water  in  the  pipes  A  B,  is 
simply  a  question  of  heating  surface  in  the  pipes  A  B 
and  in  that  part  forming  the  water-back.  With  suf- 
ficient surface,  relatively,  to  the  amount  of  water  in 
the  boiler  D,  we  do  not  see  why  good  results  should 
not  be  reached.  The  tendency  of  hot  water  from 
the  pipes  A  B  to  enter  the  pipe  C  is  slight;  not  worth 
considering,  in  fact,  unless  the  connection  were  of  so 
very  large  a  diameter  as  to  admit  of  circulation  within 
the  pipe  itself.  The  chance  of  this  is  remote.  Some 
heat  will  go  to  the  cold  water  in  the  inlet  pipe  by 
conduction,  but  this  will  be  slight. 

The  theory  in  this  case  of  the  prevention  of  lime 
obstruction  in  the  water-back  obviously  is  that  the 
water  which  is  once  admitted  to  the  pipe  system  A  B 
and  the  water-back  extension  practically  remains 
there,  unchanged  in  quality,  except  so  far  as  that 
change  is  concerned  which  occurs  after  it  is  heated 
for  the  first  time  by  circulation  through  the  water- 
back.  This  first  heating  would  have  the  effect  of 
causing  a  separation  of  some  of  the  scale-forming 
impurities  held  in  solution,  after  which  there  would 
be  no  tendency  to  form  a  further  deposit.  The  pipes 
A  B  and  water-back  would  probably  not  be  stopped 
up  by  this  comparatively  small  amount  of  initial 


scaling,  though  in  the  course  of  time,  if  the  water 
contained  in  them  be  drawn  off  occasionally  and 
fresh  water  let  in  from  the  cold-water  supply  pipe, 
new  deposits  would  be  formed,  which  would  ulti- 
mately, if  this  drawing  off  and  refilling  be  repeated 
often  enough,  clog  the  pipes. 


y 

Lu 


rf 


B 


X' 


BACK. 


HOT- WATER  COIL  FOR  BOILER. 

The  scale-forming  matter  in  the  water  which  is 
heated  in  the  boiler  D  by  the  pipes  A  B  would  be 
deposited  in  the  boiler  itself,  and  not  interfere  with 
the  working  of  the  water-back. 


Indirect  Heating"  for    &- 


INDIRECT    HEATING    FOR    A    LARGE 
KITCHEN  BOILER. 

IN  the  kitchen  of  the  National  Home  for  Volunteer 
Soldiers  at  Hampton,  Va.,  hundreds  of  gallons  of  hot 
water  are  required  about  meal  time  for  cooking,  dish- 

ja  Large  Kitchen  Boiler 


A. 

I       \ 

i 
' 

RECOUP 


INDIhECT  HEATING   FOR  A  LARGE   KITCKEN  BOILER. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


247 


washing,  etc  ,  and  usually  only  a  small  quantity  dur- 
ing the  intervening  hours. 

To  meet  this  demand  a  tank  A,  about  4x16  feet, 
was  provided  and  receives  cold  water  through  pipe 
B.  An  ordinary  circular  radiator  R  receives  steam 
from  the  house-heating  through  pipe  E  and  returns  it 
through  pipe  R.-  This  radiator  is  inclosed  in  a  water- 
tight iron  jacket  or  drum  D,  about  2x5  feet,  which  is 
connected  with  boiler  A  by  the  hot  and  cold  water 
circulation  pipes  H  and  C.  Steam  being  turned  on 
to  radiator  R,  the  water  surrounding  it  is  heated, 
and  rises  through  pipe  H  to  boiler  A,  while  the 
colder  water  flows  out  through  pipe  C  and  replaces 
it  in  drum  D,  and  so  on.  G  is  the  hot-water  supply 
and  I  is  the  emptying  pipe. 

The  apparatus  was  made  by  Bartlett  &  Hayward, 
of  Baltimore,  Md.,  and  is  said  to  work  satisfactorily, 
although  it  was  desired  to  place  the  drum  D  in  a 
vertical  position  instead  of  horizontally,  as  shown, 
and  as  was  necessitated  by  the  limited  height  of  the 
room  and  the  position  of  boiler  A. 


AN  INTERCHANGEABLE  HOT  AND   COLD 

WATER  SYSTEM  FOR  KITCHEN 

AND  LAUNDRY. 

GEORGE  B.  HAYES,  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  writes: 
"  Noticing  your  sketch  in  issue  of  August  8,  1891, 
called  'A  Kitchen  and  Laundry  Boiler  System,'  I  am 
induced  to  ask  if  you  have  ever  published  a  descrip- 
tion of  a  perfect  interchangeable  system  of  hot  and 
cold  water  for  kitchen  and  laundry  with  a  boiler  in 
each." 

[On  page  153  of  "Plumbing  and  House  Drainage 
Problems."  reprinted  from  THE  ENGINEERING 
RECORD,  and  published  at  this  office,  is  an  illustra- 


tion  showing  how  to  secure  circulation  between 
boilers  in  different  houses.  A  modification  of  this 
can  be  applied  to  the  case  cited.  We  cannot  call  to 
mind  a  recent  interchangeable  system  that  appeared 
in  our  columns,  but  we  can  see  no  reason  why  an 
apparatus  arranged  as  per  sketch  will  not  do  when 
one  boiler  is  over  the  other. 

A  is  the  kitchen  boiler,  arranged  in  the  ordinary 
manner,  and  B  is  the  laundry  boiler.  When  the  cock 
a  is  closed  the  upper  apparatus  may  be  run  past  as 
though  the  lower  one  was  not  in  existence,  as  no 
water  will  circulate  in  or  out  of  the  lower  boiler  and 
cannot  flow  from  the  lower  boiler  into  the  upper 
pipe,  for  the  simple  reason  that  a  is  closed.  In  like 
manner,  when  b  is  closed  and  the  lower  boiler  only 
is  in  use,  the  boiler  A  is  inert.  Of  course  when  the 
two  fires  are  in  operation  the  two  boilers  may  be  run 
together  by  having  cocks  a  and  b  both  open.] 


A    QUESTION    OF    HOT-WATER    CIRCU- 
LATION. 
G.  C.  WOODS,  Lawrence,  Kan.,  writes: 

"  How  can  I  secure  a  circulation  to  the  sink  and 
washbasin  from  the  boiler  shown  in  the  accompany- 
ing sketch  (Fig.  i)?  Doors  interfere  with  running 


INTERCHANGEABLE   HOT   AND   COLD  WATER  SYSTEM, 


the  circulation  pipe  along  the  wall  level  with  the 
water-back  in  the  range.  Can  I  run  the  circulation 
pipe  along  the  ceiling  and  down  under  the  floor  and 
then  come  up  to  the  range,  which  is  about  2  y^  feet 
high  ?  Will  this  work  right  ?  How  shall  I  run  a  cir- 
culation pipe  to  the  laundry  tubs  ?  I  have  your  book, 
1  Plumbing  Problems,'  but'see  nothing  like  this  in  it." 

[The  arrangement  you  have  shown  in  your  sketch 
will  not  work  at  all.  Carry  your  hot-water  pipe 
around  the  wall  above  the  boiler  as  shown,  dropping 
to  the  fixtures  and  below  them  for  return  circulation 
below  the  floor.  It  is  very  seldom  that  return  circu- 
lation is  wanted  for  laundry  tubs.  They  will  draw 


248 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


hot  water  pretty  quickly  any  way,  but  if  you  think  it 
important  to  have  it,  then  connect  them  up  on  the 
same  principle,  supply  above  and  return  below,  all  as 
shown  in  Fig.  2,  making  it  as  short  a  vertical  dis- 
tance as  possible  for  the  return  to  rise  into  the 
bottom  of  the  boiler.] 


CONNECTION  OF  KITCHEN  BOILERS  TO 

PREVENT  SYPHONAGE. 
BRANION  &  FRIDAY,  Schenectady,  write: 
"We  inclose  a  rough  sketch  of  a  dwelling  having 
hot  and  cold  water  supply  for  two  families,  each 
floor  having  independent   stops    in    the  cold-water 
pipe  in  the  cellar.    Each  boiler  has  a  stop  cock  in  the 
cold-water    pipe.     The  hot-water  pipe  on  the  first 


floor  leads  down  by  the  side  of  the  boiler  to  the  cellar 
and  branches  are  taken  out  for  the  sink  and  wash- 
trays.  The  second- floor  hot-water  pipe  leads  down 
beside  the  boiler  through  a  partition  to  the  bathroom, 
which  adjoins  the  kitchen.  The  complaint  made  is 
that  the  water  in  the  boiler  syphons  put  through  the 
cold-water  pipe  back  into  the  main.  Both  boiler 
tubes  are  vented  as  shown  in  the  sketch.  The  house 
is  situated  in  a  high  part  of  the  city  and  the  pressure 
is  very  light  at  times,  or  not  enough  to  supply  the 
house,  hence  the  syphon.  We  understand  that 
boilers  sometimes  syphon  out,  but  do  not  see  how 
they  can  below  the  vent  in  the  boiler  tube.  Will  you 
kindly  suggest  a  remedy  for  the  trouble,  as  we  find 
nothing  in  your  '  Plumbing  Problems'  that  explains 
the  case  ?" 

[Assuming,  to  begin  with,  that  there  is  a  good 
pressure  on  A,  your  city  water  main,  that  both  hot- 
water  tanks  are  full  and  that  the  vent  holes  B  B  are 
free,  so  long  as  there  is  head  enough  to  send  water 
into  No.  i  it  can  be  drawn  from  at  any  tap  below  it. 
The  same  is  true  of  No.  2.  When  the  head  has  been 
so  much  reduced  that  the  water  will  flow  only  to  C  or 
D,  or  just  sufficient  to  fill  No.  i,  the  drawing  of  cold 
water  on  the  lower  floor  will,  if  a  hot- water  tap  is 
opened  on  the  top  floor,  start  a  syphonage  from  boiler 
No.  2,  down  E  and  into  G  at  the  point  of  connection 
F,  and  so  to  the  point  of  delivery;  or  if  a  hot- water 
tap  was  opened  on  the  lower  floor,  other  conditions 
remaining  the  same,  the  water  from  No.  2  would 
pass  down  E,  making  the  circuit  at  F,  pass  up  H  into 
No.  i,  out  of  No.  i  into  I,  and  to  points  of  distribu- 


tion through  J,  though  in  either  case  the  syphonage 
would  be  broken  when  the  water  in  No.  2  had  low- 
ered to  vent  hole  B  in  circulating  tube  inside  boiler. 
When  the  head  had  been  still  further  lowered  to  a 
point  below  any  hot-water  tap  on  the  lower  floor, 
upon  opening  it  the  syphonage  would  start  from 
boiler  No.  i  down  H  into  G  and  out  to  the  main 
through  L.  But,  as  before,  it  would  be  broken  by 
the  supply  of  air  when  the  water  had  been  lowered 
to  B  or  earlier,  should  the  hot-water  tap  be  closed. 
In  no  case  will  the  water  in  the  boilers  be  exhausted 
below  B  B,  but  the  entire  contents  of  the  boilers  can 
be  evaporated  through  B  B  into  the  pipes  E  and  H. 
If  a  continuous  service  is  required,  place  independ- 
ent open  tanks  in  the  attic  if  there  is  room ;  if  not, 
then  on  the  roof,  housing  them  well  to  prevent 
freezing.  Carry  the  main  supply  pipe  to  tanks  end- 
ing with  a  ball  cock,  which  will  shut  off  when  the 
tanks  are  sufficiently  full.  Then  from  the  bottom  of 
the  tanks  connect  back  to  the  two  boilers.  If  the 
water  will  not  rise  to  the  open  tanks  at  all  times,  set 
independent  pumps  to  supply  them,  unless  it  is  some 
one  person's  duty  to  see  that  they  are  kept  full.  If 
so,  one  pump  will  suffice.  This  is  the  practice  in 
New  York,  and  we  think  will  govern  your  case.] 


TOO    MUCH    COIL    FOR    HEATING  THE 
BOILER. 

C.  S  ,  Free  port,  writes: 

"  Enclosed  you  will  find  a  sketch  of  a  hot  and  cold 
job  which  gives  me  trouble,  and  as  I  am  a  subscriber 
to  your  paper,  I  would  like  you  to  inform  me  what 
the  trouble  is. 

"  The  boiler  is  regulation  make,  and  the  hot-water 
pipe  is  above  the  cold,  and  has  a  rise  all  the  way 
from  cold-water  pipe  in  the  bottom  of  the  boiler,  and 


DRAIN  PIPE  TO  SEWER 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


249 


has  no  trap  at  all  in  it;  but  the  coil  lies  on  a  level,  and 
each  pipe  of  10  is  10  feet  long.  The  water  heats 
part  of  the  time  and  gets  the  hottest  in  the  cold  water 
clear  to  the  boiler,  and  when  you  draw  water  at  the 
hopper  it  hammers  and  draws  tepid  water  from  the 
boiler  to  the  hopper.  It  also  makes  noise  when  you 
draw  at  the  sink.  The  boiler  and  hopper  are  in  the 
basement.  The  sinks  are  on  the  next  floor.  I  mark 
with  arrows  the  direction  the  water  takes.  Please 
enlighten  me." 

[If  we  understand  you  rightly  there  is  ico  feet  of 
i-inch  pipe  in  the  coil  and  the  coil  is  practically  level. 
If  this  length  of  pipe  is  exposed  to  the  heat  of  an 
ordinary  fire,  it  is  too  much  for  a  boiler  of  the  size 
you  mention,  and  in  any  case  100  feet  of  pipe  con- 
nected continuously  with  return  bends  or  couplings 
cannot  make  a  good  heater.  To  understand  this, 
imagine  the  cold  water  flowing  into  the  first  few  feet 
of  coil — say  it  enters  at  80°  Fahr. — and  that  before  it 
has  traveled  10  feet  it  has  a  temperature  of  212  de- 
grees or  higher.  What  then  can  be  gained  by  pass- 
ing it  through  a  longer  coil?  Why,  nothing — at 
least  for  the  purposes  under  consideration;  and  if  we 
consider  what  the  effect  of  a  considerable  length  of 
coil  beyond  the  point  at  which  steam  forms  will  be, 
we  are  forced  to  the  conclusion  there  will  be  a  repul- 
sion and  a  tendency  to  drive  the  water  out  of  the 
coil  at  both  ends.  If  the  coil  is  on  its  edge  and  not 
too  long,  with  a  good  rise  in  the  intended  direction 
of  the  floor,  it  may  find  all  its  vent  upward  and  be  a 
"good  water-back."  If  it  is  flat,  level,  and  very 
long,  it  is  as  likely  to  react  into  the  bottom  of  the 
"  boiler  "  as  to  go  forward,  and  it  will  be  only  a  short 
time  until  the  coil  will  burn  out  near  the  middle  of 
its  length. 

The  tepid  water  at  the  hopper  or  at  the  first  sink 
is  accounted  for  by  the  smallness  of  diameter  of  the 
supply  pipe,  or  a  partial  stoppage  within  it,  or  both. 
There  is  sufficient  pressure  in  the  street  to  send  the 
water  to  the  highest  faucet  in  the  house  when  no 
water  is  being  drawn  elsewhere  in  the  house.  The 
pipes,  then  (both  hot  and  cold),  above  the  level  of 
the  boiler  are  small  reservoirs.  When  the  hopper  is 
flushed  the  pressure  in  the  supply  pipe  A  is  lessened, 
and  it  has  then  not  sufficient  pressure  to  hold  the 
water  on  the  upper  ends  of  the  lines  of  pipes,  and  this 
water  must  flow  backward,  all  infthe  hot- water  pipe 
going  into  the  boiler  and  forcing  an  equal  amount 
out  through  the  boiler  inlet  (cold  pipe),  while  the 
water  in  the  cold  line  simply  runs  down  the  line  for 
some  distance  and  meets  the  hot  water  coming  out 
of  the  boiler  through  the  inlet  pipe.  This  mixture 
(warm)  must  then  pass  down  the  cold  pipe,  as  there 
is  no  other  way  for  it  to  get  out,  and  passes  to  the 
hopper  warm  or  tepid.  This  of  course  cannot  last 
long,  unless  it  is  a  steam  pressure  from  the  boiler 
that  is  forcing  its  way  down  the  cold  pipe.  The 
noise  when  water  is  drawn  at  the  sink  would  indi- 
cate the  formation  of  steam.] 


TEMPERATURE    OBSERVATIONS    OF    HOT- 
WATER  PIPES. 

M.  C.  F.,  St.  Louis,  writes: 

"  Do  you  know  of  any  way  in  which  I  can  find  out 
the  temperature  of  the  water  in  the  pipes  of  a  hot- 


water  job  without  breaking  the  pipe  line  to  put  in  a 
thermometer  cup  ?" 

[Place  the  bulb  of  a  thermometer  against  the  pipe 
and  put  a  lump  of  putty  over  the  bulb  so  as  to  press 
the  bulb  against  the  pipe.  You  might  further  pre- 
vent radiation  from  the  bulb  by  putting  cotton  waste 
outside  of  the  putty.  String  can  then  be  wrapped 
about  the  whole  so  as  to  hold  it  in  position.  If  this 
is  carefully  done  the  thermometer  will  register 
within  i  degree  of  the  temperature  of  the  water  in 
the  pipe.] 


CAN  A  BOILER  BE  SUCCESSFULLY  CON- 
NECTED WITH  A  STOVE  AT  A  DISTANCE 
BY  RUNNING  THE  PIPES  ON  THE  CEIL- 
ING AND  BELOW  THE  FLOOR? 

H.  C.  H.,  Corning  Water- Works,  Corning,  N.  Y., 
writes: 

"I  have  never  noticed  in  your  valuable  journal 
any  information  touching  a  problem  in  hot-water 
circulation  which  came  up  to-day  in  our  practice,  and 
I  write  for  information  thereon. 

"  A  customer  of  ours  desires  to  locate  a  hot-water 
boiler  some  6  or  8  feet  distant  from  his  stove,  but 
does  not  want  the  hot-water  pipe  to  run  directly 
from  the  stove  to  boiler.  The  question  is,  can  the 
hot- water  pipe  be  run  to  the  ceiling,  and  then  down 
to  the  boiler  and  connect  at  the  usual  place,  and 
cold-water  pipe  be  run  under  the  floor  to  the  stove, 
and  in  this  way  have  the  water  heat  properly  in  the 
boiler  ? 

"  If  not  as  above,  is  there  any  way  to  arrange  a 
boiler  so  that  the  water  will  heat  properly  6  or  8  feet 
from  the  stove  ?  " 

[You  may  do  as  you  describe,  provided  you  put  a 
"  spud  "  on  the  side  of  the  boiler  high  up  for  the  hot- 
water  flow  pipe  to  connect  with,  and  arrange  a  means 
of  taking  the  air  away  from  the  top  of  the  syphon 
formed  above  the  boiler.  An  air-cock,  or  a  very 
small  pipe  with  a  cock  in  it,  run  from  the  top  of  the 
syphon  or  loop  to  the  hot-water  pipe,  rising  a  little 
all  the  time,  so  that  the  small  pipe  will  not  get  air- 
bound,  can  be  used.  The  cock  in  this  pipe  must  be 
choked  down  so  that  only  a  very  little  water  can  cir« 
culate  by  this  way. 

If  you  raise  the  boiler  to  as  near  the  ceiling  as 
possible  on  a  suitable  high  stand  it  will  help  matters. 

On  principle  we  do  not  advise  these  arrangements; 
but  where  they  are  necessary  we  should  proceed  as 
above.] 


THE  JOINTS  OF  PIPES  TO  A  KITCHEN 

BOILER. 

F.,  Denver,  Colo.,  writes: 

"  I  have  had  considerable  trouble  with  the  joint  of 
a  lead  pipe  connecting  the  water-back  of  a  range  and 
a  kitchen  boiler  at  the  point  where  the  lead  pipe  runs 
into  the  boiler.  The  joint  is  a  wiped  one,  but  I  find 
that  it  leaks.  What  is  the  cause  ? " 

[The  leak  is  caused  by  the  unequal  expansion  or 
contraction  of  the  three  metals,  the  lead,  solder,  and 
copper,  of  your  boiler  when  subjected  to  the  changes 
of  temperature  of  water  in  the  boiler.  The  reason 
for  this  is  that  these  metals  do  not  expand  equally 


Z50 


AMERICAN  PLUMBINfr    PRACTICE. 


for  equal  changes  of  temperature.  The  solder  will 
thus  have  to  conform  to  the  changes  in  the  other 
metals,  and  a  disintegration  of  the  joint  will  follow, 
the  solder  becoming  granulated  and  cracked.  Use  a 
brass  or  copper  pipe  for  the  hot-water  connection  be- 
tween the  boiler  and  water-back.] 


FITTING  UP  A  KITCHEN  BOILER  TO 
PREVENT  SYPHONAGE. 

YOUNG  PLUMBER,  Charleston,  W.  Va.,  writes; 

"  I  am  a  reader  of  your  valuable  paper,  and  note 
your  request  for  more  reading  matter  from  the  craft. 
I  have  just  put  in  an  old-style  range  boiler  im'la  new 
way  to  me:  Putting  cold  water  in  at  side  A  and  hot 
water  in  at  top  B,  placing  stop-cocks  at  A  and  C,  that 
water-back  and  pipes  may  readily  be  drained  without 
emptying  boiler  when  it  is  not  cold  enough  to  freeze 
a  hot  boiler  in  one  night's  time.  D  D  are  stop  and 
waste  cocks  for  controlling  water  bn  upper  floors.  I 
find  that  in  this  manner  of  boiler  fitting  the  circula- 


tion  is  perfect,  no  thumping  or  chinking,  and  also 
admits  of  draining  pipes  without  emptying  boiler. 
And  we  get  hot  water  in  half  the  time  it  takes  the 
old  way,  as  the  cold  water  does  not  pass  down 
through  hot  to  chill  it,  nor  does  hot  water  have  to 
pass  through  the  cold  to  reach  the  proper  place  of 
storage. 

"  It  there  is  any  objection  to  this  manner  of  boiler 
fitting,  I  would  like  for  some  member  of  the  craft  to 
let  us  hear  from  him." 

[There  is  some  risk  of  losing  the  water  from  the 
boiler  through  the  cock  and  connection  A  into  the 
street  mains  should  the  pressure  in  the  latter  become 
light  or  be  drawn  off  for  repairs  while  they  are  in 
their  present  position,  as  shown,  or  into  the  cellar 
through  the  stop  waste  should  the  stop  be  closed.  A 
steam  pressure  would  also  drive  the  water  from  the 
boiler  by  the  same  connection,  and  unless  there  is  a 
hole  in  the  side  of  the  inside  pipe,  which  drops  to 


near  the  bottom  of  the  boiler,  the  water  "may  bo 
driven  so  low  as  to  allow  the  water-back  to  be  burned. 
We  would  prefer  to  introduce  the  cold  water  to  the 
boiler  in  the  usual  position.  Otherwise  we  consider 
the  scheme  a  very  good  one.  and  can  see  no  objection 
unless  it  would  be  the  possibility  of  some  one's  leav- 
ing the  cock  C  closed  wljen  fire  is  in  the  range. 


TROUBLE  WITH  A  WATER-BACK. 
M.  W.  NELLIGAN,  of  South  Boston,  writes: 
"  I  have  rather  a  peculiar  question  and  come  to  you: 
for  advice.  One  of  my  customers  is  a  baker  and  in 
his  oven  he  has  used  a  water-back  such  as  is  used  in 
set  ranges,  and  it  lasted  two  years,  then  he  put  in 
another  of  the  same  make  which  lasted  two  weeks 
and  burst  in  the  same  place  that  the  first  one  did. 
I  advised  him  to  put  in  a  brass  coil,  but  he  said  it 
would  work  all  right  as  far  as  heating  water  was  con- 
cerned, but  it  would  make  a  great  deal  of  noise 
within  the  boiler,  placed  in  t^e  position  it  is. 

•'  He  says  if  the  boiler  was  placed  so  as  it  would  be 
all  above  the  water  back  it  would  work  all  right. 
Now.  I  would  like  to  know  why  it  would  not  work,  all 
right  in  either  position.  He  has  had  trouble  with  a 
coil  before,  and  that  is  the  reason  he  will  not  put  one 
in  now  until  I  convince  him  that  it  will  work  The 
boiler  that  is  in  is  very  near  the  ceiling." 

[Our  correspondent  has  made  on  his  letter  a  rough 
sketch  of  the  water-back  that  broke,  which  is  V- 
shaped  and  apparently  of  cast  iron.  Another  sketch 
shows  the  position  of  the  boiler,  which  is  about  as 
usual,  the  top  of  the  water-back  being  about  level 
with  the  top  of  the  lower  third  of  the  boiler  and  dis- 
tant from  it  about  5  feet. 

If  the  baker  has  already  had  trouble  from  a  coil,  it 
is  not  wise  to  advise  him  to  use  one  again,  since  a 
coil  may  cause  noise  where  a  cast  water-back  would 
not. 

If  the  oven  is  hot  enough  to  make  steam,  the  resist- 
ance of  a  coil  to  the  flow  of  the  water  may  detain  it 
in  the  coil  long  enough  to  permit  steam  to  form  a^d 
by  its  sudden  condensation  to  cause  the  shocks  due  to 
"  water  hammer"  in  the  pipe.  The  steam  when  it  is 
formed  will  momentarily  force  the  water  from  the 
coil  and  the  colder  water  as  it  enters  again  will  con- 
dense the  steam  and  make  a  noise.  The  same  thing 
may  occur  in  a  water- back,  but  not  to  as  great  an  ex- 
tent, other  things  being  the  same.  The  burning  of 
the  water-back  would  seem  to  indicate  that  some- 
thing of  this  kind  had  occurred  in  this  case. 

Put  in  a  water-back  and  enlarge  the  connections 
throughout  their  entire  length,  and  the  trouble  is 
likely  to  cease,  as  the  resistance  to  the  flow  of  the 
water  will  be  lessened  so  that  it  will  get  through  the 
water-back  before  it  can  be  converted  into  steam. 

We  have  so  far  assumed  that  the  water-back  of 
which  you  speak  is  of  cast  iron,  of  the  usual  pattern. 
If,  however,  your  "water-back"  is  simply  a  coil  of 
iron  pipe  it  would  not  improve  matters  to  make  it  of 
brass  unless  you  enlarge  the  diameter  of  the  pipe 
and  connections.] 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


NQ 


251 


CIRCULATION  FROM  KITCHEN  BOILERS. 


A  SUSPENDED  KITCHEN  BOILER. 
EDWARD  W.  LOTH,  Architect,  Troy,  N.  Y.,  writes: 
"  I  wish  to  suspend  a  hot-water  boiler  from  the 
ceiling  by  means  of  iron  clamps  and  rods  passing 
through  the  beams  above.  The  boiler  to  be  used 
is  a  comparatively  new  one  and  in  making  alter- 
ations in  the  building  I  would  not  like  to  discard 
it  for  a  new  one.  For  various  reasons  the  boiler 
should  be  on  the  side  of  the  room  opposite  to  the 
range  containing  water-back.  The  piping  is  to  be 
brass  and  hung  from  the  ceiling.  The  illustration 
will  show,  I  think,  clearly  what  is  desired.  In  the 
figure  A  is  the  cold-water  supply  to  the  boiler,  B  the 


cold-water  supply  to  the  water- back,  C  hot- water  pipe 
from  the  water- back,  D  hot-water  supply  to  house 
fixtures,  E  cleanout  pipe,  and  F  F  are  suspension 
rods.  Your  opinion  is  solicited  as  to  the  efficiency  ot 
the  arrangement,  not  alone  as  regards  circulation ,  but 
safety  as  well." 

[We  see  no  objection  to  the  arrangement,  and  the 
water  should  circulate  if  the  pipes  are  properly  run 
without  traps.  Numerous  instances  will  be  found  in 
THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD  of  boilers  being  sus- 
pended from  the  ceiling  or  supported  on  brackets.] 


PLACING  AN  ORDINARY  KITCHEN  BOILER 
IN  A  HORIZONTAL  POSITION. 

PLUMBER,  Trenton,  N.  J.,  writes: 

"  A  party  in  Trenton  is  going  to  have  hot  and  cold 
water  in  his  house,  but  he  has  not  much  room  in  his 
kitchen,  and  the  only  place  he  can  put  the  boiler  is 
over  the  top  of  the  range,  with  only  18  inches  of  room 
between  the  top  of  the  range  and  ceiling,  as  shown 
in  diagram.  The  bpiler  is  a  plain  ss-gallon  one. 
Will  you  please  let  me  know  through  your  paper  if  it 
will  work,  or  if  there  is  another  way  to  fit  it  up,  and 
oblige." 

[There  is  nothing  unusual  in  suspending  a  boiler 
horizontally  above  a  range,  and  in  either  "  Plumbing 
Problems,"  page  203,  or  in  our  issue  of  December  24, 
1885,  may  be  found  two  very  well  arranged  sets  of 
horizontal  boilers  in  connection  with  ranges. 

With  the  arrangement  you  show  in  the  diagram 
you  send  (the  accompanying  figure)  the  circulation 


will  be  rather  feeble.  This  may  be  improved  some- 
what by  putting  a  "  spud  "  on  the  boiler  at  a,  taking 
the  return  circulation  back  to  the  water-back  in  that 
manner,  as  shown  by  the  dotted  lines.  Then  the  cold 
water  to  the  boiler  can  be  fed  into  it  through  tne 
usual  connection,  as  shown  at  b,  instead  of  into  what 
is  usually  the  bottom  spud,  as  you  show.  The  inside 
cold-water  pipe  will  then  be  in  its  usual  place,  or  it 
may  be  dispensed  with,  possibly  to  advantage,  as 
then  the  cold  water  will  not  be  admitted  so  near  the 
point  of  outlet.  In  the  pipe  b  a  stop  and  check  should 
be  used,  the  latter  to  prevent  hot  water  from  being 
drawn  through  the  cold  pipe  at  the  sink,  which  might 
follow  under  some  conditions.  In  a  galvanized-iron 


~  ~  ~='T'rn=^i. 


i 


1 

^- 

J-J, 

^f 

s 
/ 

1 

'     ' 

1 

3 

t'          ^ 

'/ 

—  -       X 

/ 

?.  **z  —         .1 

V        ,  ^      V 

CD 

C3    \ 

boiler  an  extra  "  spud"  can  be  attached  by  tapping. 
Drill  a  three-quarter  inch  hole  and  expand  or  open  it 
with  a  drift-pin  until  the  three-quarter  pipe  tap  will 
enter.  This  will  thicken  the  edge  of  the  hole 
sufficiently  in  the  thin  iron  to  get  two  or  three  good 
turns  of  the  thread.] 


DRAWING 


COLD    WATER    FROM    HOT- 
WATER  PIPE. 


A  PLUMBER,  Liverpool,  O.,  writes: 

"  I  should  feel  obliged  if  you  can  explain  the  fol- 
lowing occurrence.  The  accompanying  sketch  is  a 
diagram  of  the  water  supply  (hot)  in  a  house.  There 
are  two  lines  of  return  circulation  taken  off  the  ex- 
pansion pipe.  The  returning  ends  of  these  lines  join 
together,  and,  as  one  pipe,  are  branched  into  the 
flow  pipe  to  water-back  (from  cylinder). 

"When  the  stop-cock  is  open  one  can  only  draw 
cool  water  from  the  cylinder,  although  the  upper 
part  of  it  may  be  quite  hot;  so  that  it  appears  that 
the  water  from  the  bottom  of  the  cylinder  is  drawn 
at  the  taps  instead  of  from  the  top  of  the  cylinder. 
Upon  closing  the  stop-cock  hot  water  only  is  drawn 
at  the  same  taps.  What  I  wish  to  know  is,  by  virtue 


252 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


of  what  law  does  the  flow  of  the  water  reverse  itself 
when  the  stop-cock  is  opened  and  shut  ? 

"  The  water  level  in  tank  will  be  about  35  feet 
above  the  top  of  water-back. 

"  The  point  A  on  expansion  pipe  will  be  about  3 
feet  6  inches  below  water  level  in  tank.  Cylinder 
holds  50  English  gallons." 

[The  fact  that  water  will  flow  most  readily  in  the 
direction  of  least  resistance  seems  to  be  the  solution 
of  this  question.  The  water  flows  from  the  tank 
downwards  through  the  pipe  a,  and  enters  the  boiler 
at  the  bottom.  Should  the  stop- cock  be  closed,  the 
water  to  leave  the  boiler  (cylinder)  and  go  to  either 
faucet  must  go  by  the  pipes  b  and  &l,  and  hence  only 
hot  water  is  drawn.  Should  the  cock,  however,  be 
opened,  the  circuit  by  the  pipe  a  through  the  bottom 
of  the  cylinder,  and  thence  to  the  pipe  c,  c1,  and  c*, 
are  presumably  much  the  shorter  than  by  the  pipe  b 
and^2;  hence  the  flow  of  cold  water  at  the  faucets. 

If  your  pipes  throughout  were  of  large  diameter, 
excepting  the  return  pipes,  this  probably  would  not 
occur,  but  they  would  have  to  be  of  sufficient  size  to 
supply  the  warm  water  by  circulation  in  the  proper 
direction.  Several  possible  contributory  causes  may 
be  given  in  addition  to  those  caused  by  friction:  (i) 
There  may  be  partial  obstruction  caused  by  solder  at 
a  joint.  (2)  If  the  loss  of  head  within  the  pipes 
when  drawing  freely  at  a  faucet  is  sufficient  to  lower 
the  water  below  the  point  A,  then  no  hot  water  can 
be  expected  at  the  faucet  </,  though  it  might  still  run 
at  the  faucet  e.  If  it  does  not  run  warm  at  the 
faucet  e  when  drawing  slowly,  then  our  opinion  is  a 
partial  stoppage  will  be  found  between  the  cylinder 
and  the  branch  b1  If  the  stoppage  exists,  remove  it 
and  then  "  choke  down  "  the  stop-cock  until  it  is  only 
sufficiently  open  to  maintain  circulation  of  the  water 
at  the  temperature  required.  This  will  hold  back  on 
the  flow  of  the  water  by  the  return  pipe  c,  but  if  this 


is  not  sufficient,  to  put  a  swinging  or  easily  worked 
check  valve  in  near  the  stop-valve.] 


e 

r 

H 


TROUBLE  WITH  A  KITCHEN  AND  LAUNDRY 
BOILER  SYSTEM. 

DAVID  S.  COWAN,  Bath-on-the- Hudson,  N.  Y., 
writes : 

"  About  a  year  ago  I  fitted  up  a  house  in  Albany 
with  water  throughout  the  house.  There  was  a  40- 
gallon  boiler  placed  in  the  kitchen  connected  to  range. 
About  a  month  ago  I  placed  a  boiler  range  in  the 
laundry,  which  was  on  the  floor  below.  The  idea 
was  to  use  the  laundry  range  during  the  summer. 
Connections  were  made  to  the  ends  of  supplies  over 
laundry  tubs  for  laundry  boiler,  and  a  stop-cock  was 


y\   KlI'cK^n    c\nd 
Laundry  'l3< 

(L/ 


placed  on  the  hot-water  supply  from  laundry  tubs, 
because  when  the  laundry  range  was  not  in  use  and 
kitchen  range  was.  cold  water  came  through  the 
laundry  boiler  and  chilled  the  hot  water  over  tubs 
unless  this  stop-cock  was  closed. 

"  The  trouble  now  is  that  when  laundry  range  is  in 
use  they  draw  hot  water  from  the  cold-water  cock  over 
the  kitchen  sink.  I  find  that  the  hot  water  circulates 
through  the  hot-water  pipe  into  kitchen  boiler,  and 
thence  through  the  boiler  tube  into  cold-water  pipe 
and  over  sink.  What  I  propose  to  do  is  to  place  a 
check  valve  on  the  cold-water  pipe  over  the  kitchen 
boiler  to  keep  the  hot  water  from  entering  the  cold- 
water  pipe.  I  would  like  to  know  if  that  would 
remedy  the  trouble,  and  also  if  this  is  the  proper  way 
to  connect  the  laundry  boiler.  If  not,  please  let  me 
know  what  is." 

[In  the  accompanying  sketch  a  represents  the  cold 
supply  to  upper  boiler  A;  b,  the  cold  supply  to  tubs 
and  lower  boiler  B;  R,  range  for  upper,  and  R1  range 
for  lower  boiler;  f,  supply  to  bathroom;  g,  hot  water 
supply  to  tubs  in  laundry;  and  iv  TV  are  the  points 
where  connections  were  made  to  the  ends  of  supply 
pipes  over  the  laundry  tubs  for  the  laundry  boiler. 

If  the  apparatus  was  arranged  with  a  circulating 
pipe,  we  should  object  to  the  use  of  the  check  valve 
at  once,  as  it  will  undoubtedly  offer  resistance  enough 
to  spoil  the  circulation.  The  diagram  shows  no  cir- 
culating pipe,  and  therefore  we  assume  there  is  none, 
and  think  the  check  valve  the  readiest  means  of 
curing  the  trouble  described  in  the  letter.  The 
cause  of  the  trouble  is  undoubtedly  that  there  is  a 
better  and  stronger  flow  of  cold  water  to  the  boiler  in 
the  laundry  than  there  is  to  the  boiler  in  the  kitchen, 
and  that  when  it  is  attempted  to  draw  cold  water  at 
kitchen  sink  a  large  part  of  it  is  obtained  by  the  way 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


253- 


of  the  cold  supply  to  the  lower  boiler;  thence  through 
hot-water  pipe  to  upper  boiler;  thence  through  cold- 
water  pipe  to  the  sink.  A  partial  stoppage  in  the 
cold-water  supply  to  the  upper  sink  and  upper  boiler 
will  account  for  it,  or  a  contracted  or  small  supply 
pipe.  There  are.  in  our  judgment,  two  methods  of 
remedying  the  difficulty  without  the  use  of  a  check 
valve — namely,  the  removal  of  the  supply  pipe  a  and 
the  joining  of  the  supply  pipe  b,  as  shown  by  the 
arrow  and  dotted  line  c.  The  second  method  is  to 
remove  the  supply  pipe  b,  and  the  connection  of  the 
pipe  a  with  the  lower  boiler,  as  shown  by  the  dotted 
line  d.  We  favor  the  second  method  proposed,  how- 
ever,  as  we  are  of  the  opinion  the  supply  b  is  more 
ample  and  vigorous  than  the  supply  a,  notwithstand- 
ing that  they  probably  come  from  the  same  source.] 


one  on  cold  supply  to  boiler.  According  to  your  draw- 
ing, in  order  to  shut  the  water  off  the  kitchen  boiler, 
you  are  obliged  to  shut  it  from  the  kitchen  sink  as  well 
as  the  bathroom  and  whatever  fixtures  there  maybe 
upstairs.  Referring  to  your  comments  thereon,  lean 
hardly  see  how  a  check  valve  placed  as  he  proposes 
would  interfere  with  the  circulation  of  the  hot-water 
system,  if  there  was  one  in  the  building  properly 
arranged.  I  mean  by  that,  taken  from  a  high  point 
of  the  main  hot- water  riser  and  returned  to  the  bottom 
of  the  boiler.  The  check  would  have  no  effect  upon 
the  circulation  whatever.  I  also  fail  to  see  why  you 
should  favor  your  proposed  '  second  method '  and 
abandon  the  supply  pipe  b,  which  you  consider 
'  more  ample  and  vigorous  '  than  a,  which  you  retain, 
except  on  the  theory  that  two  wrongs  make  one 
right/' 


TROUBLE  WITH  A  KITCHEN  AND  LAUNDRY 
BOILER  SYSTEM. 

J.  A.  ROSSMAN,  of  the  firm  of  Rossman  &  Bracken, 
of  New  York,  writes: 

"  After  reading  Mr.  David  S.  Cowan's  letter,  and 
seeing  his  diagram  for  the  kitchen  and  laundry  boiler 
system,  in  the  RECORD,  I  conclude  that  his 
whole  trouble  is  caused  by  the  position  of  the  stop- 
cock under  the  kitchen  sink.  He  says  the  object  is 
to  use  the  laundry  range  during  the  summer,  and 
appears  to  understand  the  necessity  of  shutting  off 
the  source  of  that  supply  when  the  range  is  not  in 
use.  He  must  certainly  do  the  same  with  the  other 
range  and  boiler  when  they  are  not  in  use.  You  will 
readily  see  by  the  position  of  the  stop-cock,  which  he 
must  use,  that  it  would  prevent  the  street  supply  from 
coming  to  his  kitchen  sink,  as  well  as  to  his  kitchen 
boiler.  If  he  should  place  a  check  valve  where  he 
proposes,  he  would  still  have  to  close  the  stop-cock 
under  the  sink  to  prevent  the  cold  water  from  passing 
through  the  kitchen  boiler  into  hot- water  system. 
He  then  would  get  no  cold  water  to  the  kitchen  sink 
or  his  bathroom. 

"  If  he  will  place  a  stop-cock  where  he  proposes  to 
put  the  check  valve — viz  ,  on  the  cold-water  branch 
to  kitchen  boiler,  where  it  should  have  been  put 
originally,  he  will  be  able  to  overcome  his  trouble. 
I  think  if  he  placed  a  check  valve  where  he  proposes, 
and  in  the  autumn  when  he  abandons  the  use  of  the 
laundry  range  and  shuts  that  source  of  supply  off  he 
will  very  soon  be  asking  you  why  his  boiler  or 
range  pipes  burst,  or  some  other  weaker  point  in 
his  hot-water  system  gives  way,  because  there  would 
be  no  possible  chance  for  expansion. 

"  I  assume  from  the  drawing,  of  course,  that  this 
is  a  direct-pressure  system,  and  there  is  no  tank  in 
the  house  where  a  relief  pipe  could  be  taken.  It  is 
possible  that  my  conclusions  are  wrong,  from  the  fact 
that  your  drawing  may  be  misleading,  as  it  would 
hardly  seem  credible  that  any  plumber  would  put  two 
stop-cocks  on  supply  a  with  no  branches  between, 
where  in  using  either  of  them  you  would  necessarily 
shut  the  entire  system  off  the  house,  excepting  the 
laundry  tubs  as  it  was  originally  fitted,  and  not  have 


HOT-WATER  CIRCULATION  IN  A  GREEN- 
HOUSE. 

A  CORRESPONDENT  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  writes: 
"I  am  figuring  on  a  greenhouse  job  and  want  to 
run  my  pipes  in  accordance  with  the  annexed  sketch. 
Will  the  arrangement  work?  C  is  a  loo-foot  coil  un- 
der a  hot-bed,  and  it  must  be  supplied  from  the  main 
A  on  the  other  side  of  the  path  P  without  obstruct- 
ing the  passageway.  This  coil  is  the  last  at  the  end 
of  pipe  A. 


HOT  WATER  CIRCULATION 

IN  A 

&*&/    GREEN.  HOUSE 

'  '    v: 


"  I  think  it  would  circulate  all  right  by  going  over 
the  walk  and  having  another  bend  around  under  it 
as  shown.  The  main  A  is  higher  up  than  the  branch 
to  the  coil.  If  this  will  not  work,  what  would  you 
suggest  ? " 

[The  lower  loops  D,  J,  K,  K  are  unnecessary.  The 
arrangement  will  circulate  through  the  upper  loops 
D,  E,  G,  H  if  the  air  be  prevented  from  collecting 
there.  This  can  be  readily  done  by  connecting  a 
vent  pipe  E  L  to  reach  up  above  the  expansion  tank 
and  open  at  the  top.  This  can  be  the  more  easily 
done  since  in  a  greenhouse  system  the  tank  is  rarely 
very  much  elevated.] 


TANK-WATER  SUPPLY  FOR  A  KITCHEN 

BOILER. 
READER,  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  writes: 

"  Please  give  me  your  valuable  opinion  on  the  fol- 
lowing arrangement  of  hot-water  pipes.  Is  it  safe 
and  advisable  in  a  small  house  in  the  country  to  have 


254 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


a  tank  in  the  attic,  of  a  capacity  of  200  gallons,  and 
supplied  through  pump  worked  by  hand,  if  in  the 
kitchen  there  is  a  4o-gallon  boiler  connected  with 
water-back  in  the  usual  way?  There  is  a  |^-inch 
pipe  from  tank  supplying  boiler,  and  an  expansion 
pipe  is  carried  up  from  highest  point  on  hot-water 
pipe  over  top  of  tank.  Would  any  bad  results  follow 
temporary  failure  of  supply,  as  such  stoppages  are 
very  likely  to  occur  ? " 

[If  the  work  is  done  in  the  usual  manner  about  the 
boiler,  and  the  small  hole  for  preventing  syphonage 
is  open  in  the  cold-water  pipe  within  the  boiler  near 
the  top,  all  that  can  follow  short  interruptions  to  the 
supply  of  water  will  be  the  heating  of  the  water 
which  remains  in  the  boiler  to  a  point  at  which  it 
may  give  off  steam.  This  steam  will  find  vent 
through  the  supply  from  tank  if  there  is  no  check 
valve  in  it,  or  it  will  escape  through  the  nearest  hot- 
water  faucet  that  is  opened.  If  this  state  of  affairs 
long  continues  the  water  in  the  boiler  and  water-back 
will  evaporate  and  the  back  become  burned  or 
cracked. 

There  is  a  possible  danger  from  explosion  by  over- 
pressure, but  this  is  pretty  remote.  However,  it  is 
best  not  to  take  any  risks,  and  therefore  we  advise  an 
unlimited  supply  of  water  to  the  boiler  at  all  times, 
and  only  give  the  above  explanation  that  the  question 
may  be  intelligently  understood.] 


A  LOOP  ABOVE  AND  A  CIRCUIT  BELOW  A 
HOT-WATER  BOILER. 

WILLIAM  McNAiR,  Westbrook,  Me.,  writes: 
"  I  send  a  drawing  of  a  hot-water  job  which  ap- 
pears to  be  unlike  anything  described  in  "  Plumbing 
and  House-Drainage  Problems."    In  Fig.    i  the  re- 

"  of  t' 


has  to  rise  above  the  second  floor,  and  then  drop  to 
enter  the  boiler.  The  boiler  supply  and  return  have 
each  an  open  pipe  from  the  top  of  the  boiler  over  the 
tank.  The  cellar  circuit  is  carried  along  the  timbers, 
with  a  fall  of  6  inches  to  the  return  end,  where  a 
draw-off  is  put  in.  Another  plan  provides  a  connec- 
tion of  the  return  with  the  lower  pipe  to  the  boiler, 
shown  by  the  dotted  pipe  A.  with  a  shut-off  to  pre- 
vent drawing  out  the  contents  of  the  boiler  when 
making  repairs.  Will  either  of  these  systems  main- 
tain a  circulation  in  the  cellar  ?  " 

[Our  advice  is  not  to  attempt  what  you  propose.  It 
will  not  work  and  circulate  in  any  form.  The  loop 
shown  above  the  boiler  will  not  help  you.  The  up 
leg  of  the  loop  will  lose  as  much  heat,  and  theo- 
retically a  little  more,  than  the  down  leg,  and  there- 
fore will  fully  balance  any  gain  due  to  the  latter.  It 
is  a  waste  of  time  and  material  to  construct  circuits 
below  the  boiler.  Run  a  circuit  as  shown  in  Fig.  2, 
and  return  below  the  floor,  if  you  desire,  and  it  will 
circulate  if  the  pipe  is  free  from  air  pockets.] 


In  Fi 
turn  after  coming  50  feet  from  the  end 


the  cellar, 


HOT  WATER  FROM  THE  RETURN  PIPES. 

SELIM,  Piscataquis,  N.  H.,  writes: 

"  My  opinion  was  asked  as  to  a  proposed  plan  for 
bringing  hot  water  to  washbowls  and  sinks.  The  en- 
gineer considered  it  a  'happy  thought.'  His  plan 
was  this:  He  has  a  low  pressure  or  gravity  system 
heating  the  building  by  steam,  and  was  to  make  re- 
turn pipes  (one  or  more)  supply  the  hot  water  to  the 
bowls,  etc.  Would  a  man  having  any  clear  idea  of  the 
principle  of  steam  heating  attempt  such  things?  I 
gave  him  my  opinion  in  very  plain  English.  I  then 
asked  how  high  above  '  water  line '  his  bowls  and 
sinks  were  located;  how  much  pressure  he  proposed 
to  carry  on  his  boiler;  if  he  was  to  have  a  fireman  in 
constant  attendance,  or  control  by  automatic  damper 
regulator;  where  his  hot  water  was  to  come  from  ?  I 
asked  if  he  had  a  feed-water  heater  and  pump  or  in- 
jector, and  if  so,  why  he  called  it  a  gravity  job;  and 


FIG.  I 


SECOND  3~rof»v 


•%" 


A  LOOP  ABOVE  AND  A   CIRCUIT  BELOW  A   HOT-WATER  BOILER. 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


255 


finally,  why  he  did  not  put  in  a  small  hot-water  boiler 
or  tank,  with  brass  coil  connecting  with  his  steam 
and  return,  and  thus  safely  supply  hot  water  to  his 
bowls  and  sinks  ?  He  has  a  horizontal  tubular  boiler 
of  40  horse  power.  With  the  hot-water  at  several 
sinks  running— left  running  thoughtlessly,  as  they 
are  very  likely  to  be — what  would  be  the  very  prob- 
able result  ?  " 

[This  proposed  plan  of  hot-water  supply  is  too 
ridiculous  to  be  entertained,  and  but  for  the  fact  that 
just  such  men  as  would  plan  a  job  of  this  sort  often, 
by  their  unskillfulness  and  ignorance,  cause  great  in- 
convenience and  injury  to  others,  even  placing  human 
life  in  ja^pardy,  we  would  not  feel  justified  in  going 
into  details  in  answering  the  query  of  our  corre- 
spondent. No  person  properly  trained  as  a  heating 
engineer  would  lay  out  such  a  job,  and  employers 
should  consult  their  own  interests  by  not  entrusting 
work  to  such  impracticable  and  dangerous  men. 
Assuming  that  the  job  was  installed  upon  the  plan 
indicated,  only  steam  could  be  drawn  upon  the  top 
floors,  steam  and  water  from  the  cocks  near  the 
water  line,  and  water  from  those  below  the  water 
line.  Water  drawn  from  such  a  system  would  not 
be  fit  for  domestic  use.  It  would  be  full  of  rust  and 
at  times  would  emit  a  disagreeable  odor  such  as  is 
often  detected  where  air  is  drawn  from  gravity  coils. 

One  of  the  first  laws  of  steam  heating  which  a 
fitter  should  learn  is  to  allow  no  water  to  be  taken 
from  the  returns.  Experience  has  taught  that  this 
practice  has  caused  the  "burning"  of  more  boilers 
than  all  other  causes  combined.  Many  heating  con- 
tractors in  recognition  of  this  danger  will  not  connect 
a  "  blow-off  "  directly  to  a  sewer.  This  restriction  we 
heartily  indorse  for  small  jobs  or  places  where  an 
engineer  is  not  employed. 

Your  plan  of  a  hot-water  tank  with  brass  heating 
pipes  through  which  the  steam  and  return  pipes 
would  connect,  is  very  proper  and  is  the  best  that 
can  be  done  under  some  conditions.  We  would  sug- 
gest in  this  case,  using  a  hot-water  circulating  boiler 
of  sufficient  size  and  of  the  character  used  in  the 
plumbing  of  dwellings.  If  there  is  sufficient  pressure 
in  the  main  service  pipe,  it  will  force  the  hot  water 
from  the  boiler  to  the  several  points  for  use;  or  if  not 
a  tank  should  be  placed  sufficiently  high  and  so  con- 
nected that  when  in  service  it  would  act  as  a  head, 
giving  the  desired  pressure.  The  water  in  this  boiler 
or  tank  may  be  heated  by  connecting  flow  and  return 
pipes  into  the  firebox  of  the  steam  boiler,  on  the  same 
general  plan  as  is  used  in  connecting  a  kitchen  range 
and  tank.  The  pipes  can  be  laid  against  the  bridge 
wall.  The  hotter  the  place  the  better,  if  much  hot 
water  is  required,  but  great  care  must  be  taken  to 
have  the  connecting  pipes  properly  run,  otherwise 
there  will  be  endless  noises  and  repairs.  Any  good 
plumber  should  know  how  to  arrange  the  job.  You 
ask  what  would  be  the  probable  result  of  drawing 
tot- water  service  from  the  returns  of  a  gravity  sys- 
tem. It  might  be  annoyance,  stench,  dirty  water, 
scalding  by  steam,  with  chances  favoring  a  burned  or 
cracked  boiler  with  a  heavy  boilermaker's  bill,  or  an 
exploded  boiler  with  attendant  damage  to  property 
and  peril  to  life,  and  the  incidental  inquiry — after  the 
event — ' '  How  did  it  happen  ?  Who  is  to  blame  ? "] 


HEATING  A  BOILER    FROM   TWO  WATER- 
BACKS. 

IN  a  summer  cottage  at  Far  Rockaway,  L.  I.,  it 
was  desired  to  have  one  boiler  supply  both  kitchen 
and  laundry  and  be  heated  at  will  from  either  range. 
K  is  the  kitchen  and  L  is  the  laundry  range  set  back 


HEATING   A   KITCHEN   BOILER   FROM   TWO   WATER-BACKS. 

to  back  against  a  partition  P.  B  is  a  so-gallon  boiler 
receiving  cold  water  through  a  pipe  C  and  supplying 
hot  water  through  a  pipe  H.  The  sediment  pipe  A 
has  branches  D  and  E  to  both  water-backs.  When 
the  kitchen  range  is  used  the  circulation  is  through 
the  pipes  F,  D,  and  G,  but  when  the  laundry  range 
is  used  it  is  through  the  pipes  F,  E,  and  I.  The 
pipe  G  was  first  connected  to  the  boiler  at  K,  as 
shown  by  the  dotted  line,  but  did  not  give  good  cir- 
culation. The  present  arrangement  is  satisfactory. 
The  diagram  is  made  from  data  furnished  by  John 
Renehan,  New  York  City,  who  designed  and  executed 
the  work. 


WHAT  CRACKED  THE  WATER-BACK  AND 
CAUSED  THE  RUMBLING  NOISE? 

J.  R.  S.  writes: 

"  I  am  a  reader  of  your  valuable  paper  and  you 
will  confer  a  favor  by  giving  the  whys  and  wherefores 
of  the  following  difficulties  a  brother  plumber  expe- 
rienced not  long  since  with  a  1'ange  boiler  and  back. 
He  asks  me,  Would  leaving  the  sediment  cock  open 
burst  the  back  when  the  supply  was  sufficient  to  keep 
the  boiler  full,  regardless  of  waste  through  sediment 
cock.  He  gives  me  a  sketch  as  follows: 

"  Boiler  is  in  basement.  A  is  a  supply  pipe  and 
connected  in  the  bottom  of  a  tank  on  the  fourth  story 


2E6 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


of  the  building.  B  is  a  check  valve  to  keep  water  in 
tank  from  washing  back  into  the  main.  C  is  sedi- 
ment cock.  Our  brother  came  to  repair  a  burst  in  pipe 
D,  and  in  order  to  do  this  he  shut  off  the  supply  and 
emptied  boiler  through  sediment  cock  C;  wiped  the 
joint,  turned  the  supply  on,  and  left  the  job  as  being 
all  right,  forgetting  to  close  sediment  cock.  In  a 
few  hours  he  returned  to  see  how  the  job  was,  and 
found  a  hot  fire,  but  boiler  and  circulating  pipes  cold 
and  a  fearful  water  hammer  in  the  boiler.  On  dump- 
ing the  fire  he  found  the  water-back  had  cracked  and 
then  discovered  the  sediment  cock  open.  On  putting 
in  a  new  back  and  closing  the  sediment  cock  the  job 
proved  to  be  all  right. 


If  enough  water  remained  in  the  boiler  (when  the 
sediment  cock  was  open)  to  cover  the  upper  end  of 
the  pipe  F,  the  back  would  not  be  cracked  or 
burned.  ] 


"  I  explained  the  cause  of  the  trouble  to  my  friend 
as  follows:  That  the  escape  of  the  water  through 
pipe  E  and  sediment  cock  C  created  a  vacuum  in 
pipe  D.  making  a  downward  flow  of  cold  water  in 
circulating  pipe  F,  through  back  and  pipe  D,  and  out 
at  sediment  cock.  The  flow  of  cold  water  on  the  hot 
back  cracked  it,  and  also  caused  the  water  hammer 
in  boiler.  Am  I  right?  If  not,  please  favor  us  with 
a  correct  reason,  and  oblige." 

[If  there  were  a  down  ward  flow  of  water  in  the  pipe 
F,  thence  through  the  water-back  and  pipe  D,  and 
out  through  the  sediment  cock,  the  chances  are  the 
back  would  not  be  injured,  unless,  indeed,  this  flow 
suddenly  started  when  the  back  was  red-hot. 

If  the  boiler  and  circulating  pipes  F  and  D  were 
cold,  when  the  condition  of  things  was  first  noticed, 
it  is  likely  the  water  was  passing  as  you  say,  other- 
wise they  would  be  very  hot. 

The  water  hammer  you  mention  certainly  cannot 
be  caused  by  steam  formed  in  the  back  (as  you  say 
the  pipes  and  boiler  were  cold),  therefore  the  rum- 
bling or  water  hammer  must  be  caused  by  air  in  a 
partly  filled  boiler;  or  you  may  be  misinformed  about 
the  boiler  and  pipes  F  and  D  being  cold,  and  the 
water  hammer  may  have  been  really  caused  by  steam, 
as  we  assume  it  was  by  water  running  into  the  back 
through  pipe  D  and  then  being  driven  violently  from 
the  back  through  both  pipes  in  the  form  of  steam. 


TROUBLE  WITH  A  HOT-WATER  SUPPLY 
BOILER. 

A.  C.,  of  Maiden,  Mass.,  writes: 

"  I  inclose  you  a  diagram  of  boiler  connected  to 
range  as  at  present.  The  boiler  continually  snaps 
and  breaks  the  pipes.  The  boiler  holds  about  120 
gallons  and  is  raised  as  high  as  it  is  possible  to  get  it. 
Can  you  make  any  suggestions  to  obviate  the  trouble, 
and  what  is  the  best  thing  to  do  to  get  the  best 
results  ? " 

[Judging  from  your  diagram,  your  sole  and  suf- 
ficient cause  of  trouble  is  that  the  circulation  is  so 
sluggish  that  steam  forms  in  the  water-back  and 
accumulates  there  until  it  comes  in  contact  with  the 
colder  water  in  the  boiler,  when  it  is  suddenly  con- 
densed, causing  a  violent  water  hammer,  and  break- 
ing  the  pipes  as  you  describe.  The  remedy  is  to 
raise  the  flow  pipe  from  the  water-back  to  the  boiler, 
so  as  to  enter  the  boiler  some  distance  above  the 
water-back  as  shown  by  the  dotted  lines  at  A,  and 
the  higher  the  point  at  which  the  flow  pipe  enters 
the  boiler  the  more  rapid  and  efficient  will  be  the  cir- 
culation, though  usually  a  difference  of  elevation  of  2 
feet  or  so  will  give  sufficient  circulation  to  heat  the 
water  rapidly  and  prevent  it  from  remaining  long- 
enough  in  the  water-back  to  be  turned  into  steam. 


facUUM 
TO   tf/TfHENS/MK- 


The  only  efficient  cause  of  the  circulation  between 
a  water- back  and  boiler  lies  in  the  fact  that  there  is 
a  column  of  water  in  the  flow  pipe  and  water-back 
which  is  hotter  than  that  at  a  corresponding  ele- 
vation in  the  boiler.  The  higher  this  column,  and 
the  greater  the  difference  of  temperature,  the  more 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


NQ 


257 


rapid  the  circulation  will  be.  It  is  the  rise  of  the 
flow  pipe,  not  its  length,  that  does  the  work,  and  the 
direction  taken  by  the  lower  pipe  leading  from  the 
boiler  to  the  water-back  has  no  effect  on  the  circu- 
lation whatever.  It  must  be  remembered,  however, 
that  while  increasing  the  height  of  the  flow  pipe 
tends  to  accelerate  the  circulation,  it  cannot  effect- 
ually overcome  the  resistance  offered  by  too  many 
bends  or  fittings,  or  too  small  size  of  pipe,  or,  per- 
haps, some  obstacle  that  has  lodged  in  it,  so  that 
if  after  raising  the  flow  pipe  the  circulation  is 
still  unsatisfactory,  you  may  be  sure  that  some  ob- 
struction such  as  above  mentioned  exists  in  the 
pipes,  and  if  carefully  sought  for  and  removed  there 
will  be  no  further  trouble.  In  this  connection  you 
will  do  well  to  read  carefully  the  answer  given  in 
our  issue  of  March  16,  1889,  to  the  question  "  How 
to  connect  a  water-back."] 


with   both  water-backs  together,  and  working  well 
with  either  alone. 


STEAM    AND     RANGE    WATER-BACK    ON 
KITCHEN  BOILER  AT  HAMPTON,  VA. 

IN  the  governor's  house  of  the  Home  for  Volunteer 
Soldiers,  at  Hampton,  Va. ,  it  was  desired  to  provide 
heating  capacity  for  the  large  kitchen  boiler  B,  in 
addition  to  that  furnished  by  the  ordinary  water-back 
D  of  the  adjacent  range  A. 

This  was  effected  by  connecting  the  boiler  circu- 
lation pipes  F  and  G  with  a  steam  water-back  S, 
which  received  steam  from  the  house-heating  appa- 
ratus through  pipe  E  and  returned  it  through  R. 
The  steam  water-back  S  consists  simply  of  an  iron 


case  L  containing  a  steam  coil  M.  This  is  surrounded 
by  water  admitted  at  the  bottom  through  the  branch 
J  from  the  cold  circulation  pipe  G.  After  being 
heated  it  flows  out  through  branch  I  into  the  hot  cir- 
culation pipe  of  kitchen  boiler  B. 

This  arrangement  was  made  by  Bartlett  &  Hay- 
ward,  of  Baltimore  Md.,  and  is  said  to  operate  satis- 
factorily, heating  a  large  quantity  of  water  rapidly 


DEFECTIVE  HOT- WATER  CIRCULATION. 
H.,  Architect,  Hartford,  Conn.,  writes: 
"A  plumber  has   set  a  horizontal  4o-gallon  boiler 
over  a  kitchen  range,  as  per  sketch.     It  takes  three 
hours,  with  the  ample  water-back  and  a  hot  fire,  to 
provide  tepid  water  at  the  top  of  boiler,  and  conse- 
quently at  the  fixtures,  which  have  a  circulating  pipe. 
Hot  water  is  absolutely  unobtainable.     The  pipes 
are  of  brass,   with    ^-inch   bore.      The    pipe  from 


water-back  becomes  very  hot,  but  that  doesn't  affect 
the  water  in  the  boiler. 

"  I  claim  that  the  apparatus  will  work  all  right  if 
the  boiler  is  turned  upside  down.  Will  it  ?  If  not, 
what  would  you  recommend  ? 

P.  S. — Is  there  any  difference  in  the  hot-water 
supply  from  horizontal  or  from  vertical  boilers? " 

[If  the  pipes  are  arranged  as  shown  in  your  sketch 
there  is  nothing  in  the  arrangement  that  should  pre- 
vent your  getting  hot  water  and  securing  proper  cir- 
culation. The  trouble  is  probably  due  to  some  stop- 
page in  the  pipes,  either  dirt,  shavings,  or  some  other 
obstruction.  To  turn  the  boiler  upside  down  would 
make  no  appreciable  difference.  At  any  rate,  we 
should  first  look  for  the  cause  of  the  stoppage  in  the 
pipes  leading  to  and  from  the  boiler. 

There  should  not  be  any  difference,  other  things 
being  the  same.] 


AN  ERROR  IN  CONNECTING  A  DOUBLE 
BOILER. 

PLUMBER  writes: 

"As  a  recent  experience  of  mine  in  fitting  up  a 
double-boiler  system  may  serve  to  give  a  useful  hint 
to  others  or  save  them  a  like  mistake,  I  send  you  an 
account  of  it. 

"  After  renewing  some  plumbing  in  a  private  resi- 
dence here,  I  turned  the  tank  water  on  to  the  inside 
boiler  A  only,  of  the  usual  double  boiler  shown  in  the 
diagram.  Very  soon  water  began  to  run  from  cocks 
connected  with  the  outside  boiler  B  only.  Careful 


258 


NQ 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING   PRACTICE. 


search  revealed  no  by-pass,  and  the  inside  boiler, 
though  just  tested,  was  declared  to  leak.  When  re- 
moving it  to  be  retested  I  found  that  the  sediment 
cocks  C  and  D  were  of  different  patterns,  so  that 
when  the  handles  were  in  the  position  shown,  C  was 


B 


open  and  D  was  closed.     Supposing  both  to    be  like 
D,  I  had  turned  them  as  shown,  hence  the  trouble. 

"  This  discovery  of  course  solved  the  mystery,  as 
the  water  passed  through  C  and  filled  B  as  indicated 
by  the  arrows  C  was  immediately  replaced  by  a 
cock  like  D,  when  everything  worked  properly,  and 
no  harm  was  done,  except  in  losing  considerable  time 
to  find  the  trouble." 


RUMBLING   IN   A   KITCHEN    BOILER. 
E.  E.  M.,  South  Orange,  N.  J.,  writes: 
"A  friend  of  mine  has  been  much  troubled  lately 
with  a  rumbling  noise  in  the  hot-water  boiler  con- 
nected with  the  plumbing  in  his  house.     In  speaking 
of  the  matter  to  me  I  resolved  to  look  into  the  con- 
nections and  see  if  I  could  discover  any  reason  for  it. 


Accordingly,  I  sketched  out  the  run  of  the  pipes, 
which  sketch  is  herewith  transmitted.  I  can  find  no 
explanation  of  the  difficulty, and  have  resolved  to  tres- 
pass upon  your  space  and  see  if  you  can  assist  me. 
The  system  is  entirely  clear  from  dirt.  The  water 
used  is  rain  or  artesian-well  water." 

[In  the  sketch,  which  we  reproduce,  B  represents 
the  boiler;  T  and  P  the  supply  pipe  from  tank;  W,  B, 
water-back;  W,  T,  pipe  to  wash  tubs;  S,  pipe  to  sink; 
and  B,  R,  pipe  to  bathroom.  Rumbling  noises  in 


kitchen  boilers,  as  complained  of  in  this  case,  are  not 
uncommon,  and  are  due  simply  to  the  formation  of 
steam  brought  about  by  a  bright  fire  and  a  compara- 
tively small  demand  for  hot  water  from  the  boiler. 
The  steam  collects  in  the  upper  part  of  the  boiler 
driving  out  the  small  quantity  of  water  under  the 
curved  head  through  the  small  hole  in  the  cold- 
water  supply  pipe  P,  a  little  below  the  point  of  en- 
trance into  the  boiler.  A  very  simple  remedy  for 
the  noise  would  be  to  draw  off  some  of  the  hot  water 
from  the  boiler,  allowing  it  to  escape,  say,  into  the 
kitchen  sink,"  where  it  would,  moreover,  exercise  a 
cleansing  influence.  The  trouble,  however,  can 
scarcely  be  considered  a  serious  one,  indicating 
simply,  as  already  stated,  that  there  has  been  a  fall- 
ing off  in  the  demand  for  hot  water.] 


HOT-WATER   CIRCULATION  QUESTION. 

THE  following  has  been  referred  to  us  for  reply: 
ST.  JOHN,  N.  B.,  April  15,  1887. 

SIR:  ,A  range  boiler,  with  cistern,  bath,  etc.,  fitted 
in  same  flat,  is  fitted  with  circulation  pipe  as  per 
sketch.  How  can  there  be  a  circulation  returning  to 


the  boiler  ?  As  we  understand  it,  the  circulation  can 
only  be  by  gravitation.  We  hold  that  the  tank  can 
have  no  effect,  even  if  placed  on  floor  above.  We 
can  see  no  use  in  the  circulation  pipe  fitted  as  it  is 
— architects  to  the  contrary.  We  cannot  see  that  the 
cistern  has  any  effect.  There  are  rooms  between 
kitchen  and  bathrooms  through  which  pipes  on  walls 
might  be  objectionable.  C.  E. 

[An  apparatus  such  as  shown  will  not  circulate, 
when  by  the  word  circulate  we  allude  to  the  flow  of 
warm  water  that  goes  on  wiihin  properly  arranged 
hot-water  pipe  from  the  head  of  a  boiler  to  some  dis- 
tant faucet  and  returning  again  by  a  parallel  pipe 
called  a  "circulation  pipe."  Therefore.it  would  be 
just  as  well,  and  would  save  something  in  first 
cost,  to  omit  the  pipe  a  in  the  apparatus  shown  in 
the  sketch. 

The  increased  height  of  a  tank  or  cistern  above 
the  boiler  has  little  or  nothing  to  do  in  this  case  with 
the  question  of  circulation  so  long  as  it  remains  above 
the  level  of  the  boiler,  and  the  only  effect  it  can  have 
is  to  increase  the  pressures  in  the  pipes  generally. 
Anything,  however,  that  will  increase  the  pressure 
of  the  water  in  a  properly  arranged  system  will  be 


AMERICAN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 


NQ 


259 


the  means  of  allowing  the  water  to  become  relatively 
hotter  before  it  forms  steam,  aud  as  an  increase  of 
temperature  may  be  assumed  to  be  tributary  to  the 
increase  of  circulation,  other  things  being  favorable, 
a  high  tank  may  then  be  considered  as  more  advan- 
tageous than  a  low  one,  but  this  will  not  apply  in 
this  case,  as  the  apparatus  will  not  "  circulate."] 


WHY  WATER  IS  MILKY  WHEN  FIRST 
DRAWN. 

BOSTON,  May  20,  1886. 

SIR:  As  a  subscriber  of  your  valuable  paper,  I  would 
like  to  inquire  through  the  columns  of  the  same  the 
cause  of  the  water  at  my  house  (in  Sharon,  Mass.) 
coming  from  the  faucet  in  a  milky  form  or  appear- 
ance, It  comes  from  the  regular  town  water-works, 
and  has  recently  been  put  in,  and  I  know  of  no  other 
on  the  street  that  has  this  trouble.  I  wish  to  know 
if  it  would  be  considered  objectionable  for  drinking  or 
domestic  purposes?  Any  explanation  of  the  above 
would  be  thankfully  received  through  the  columns  of 
your  paper.  Very  respectfully  yours, 

C.  T.  DEERY. 

[The  milky  appearance  is  probably  due  to  confined 
air  in  the  water  under  the  pressure  in  the  pipes  which 
escapes  when  the  water  runs  from  the  faucet.  It 
doubtless  becomes  clear  after  it  has  stood  in  a  vessel 
a  moment.  Under  these  circumstances  it  is  not  objec- 
tionable for  drinking  or  domestic  purposes.] 


WATER     WASTED     THROUGH      IMPROPER 

ARRANGEMENT    OF    BOILER    VENT 

AND    TANK    OVERFLOW. 

IN  looking  over  the  plumbing  of  a  New  York 
building  in  1891  a  condition  of  affairs  was  observed 
which  may,  in  more  than  one  case,  account  for  a 
large  water  bill,  and  may  in  others  account  for  want 
of  warm  water  in  the  boiler  at  times  when  the  fires 
are  good  and  when  plenty  of  hot  water  is  expected. 

In  the  case  in  question  we  found  the  air  and  vent 
pipe  a  brought  in  a  goose-neck  fashion  b  over  the 
edge  of  the  tank,  and  down  into  the  top  of  the  stand- 
ing overflow  pipe  c  as  shown.  We  asked  why  the 
pipe  was  brought  close  down  to  the  overflow,  and 
were  informed  "that  it  was  to  insure  the  keeping  of 
water  in  the  trap  under  the  tank,"  and  were  told 
"  that  when  the  water  got  very  warm  in  the  hot- 
water  pipe  and  circulation,  that  it  would  run  over 
and  add  water  to  the  trap."  This  may  be  true,  and 
if  the  goose-neck  is  not  carried  sufficiently  high 
above  the  water  in  the  tank  there  is  no  doubt  of  it, 
but  it  did  not  seem  to  strike  the  man  who  designed 
it  that  should  the  density  of  water  in  the  hot-water 
pipe  from  the  boiler  decrease,  by  being  warmed, 
until  it  reached  the  top  of  the  goose-neck  and  run 
over,  then  the  water,  as  it  run  down  the  short  leg  of 
the  goose-neck,  would  balance  an  equal  height  of 


water  in  the  rising  pipe,  and  that  this  syphon  might 
then  run  continually,  taking  water  from  the  tank 
and  actually  discharging  it  at  a  higher  level  into  the 
overflow  pipe,  just  as  long  as  heat  was  applied  to 
the  boiler,  or  until  the  water  in  the  tank  fell  so  low 
as  not  to  be  able  to  balance  a  column  of  warm  water 
equal  to  the  height  of  the  open  end  of  the  goose- 
neck. To  make  this  plain,  assume  the  height  of 
water  from  the  water-back  to  the  top  of  the  water  in 
the  tank  to  be  60  feet,  and  its  temperature  to  be,  say, 
40°  Fahr.  This  will  exert  a  pressure  of  26.11  pounds 
per  square  inch  in  the  water-back.  Consider,  again. 


N 


the  height  of  a  column  of  water  in  the  hot- water  pipe 
at  a  mean  temperature,  say  200°  Fahr.,  that  will  have 
the  pressure  necessary  to  balance  a  6o-foot  column 
at  40  degrees.  Then  as  the  expansion  of  water  from 
40  to  200  is  equal  to  an  increase  of  its  bulk  of  o  0386 
(without  increasing  its  weight),  we  have  60'  X  0.0386  -f- 
60  =  62.31  feet  as  the  height  of  the  warmed  column. 

From  this  it  is  evident  that  unless  a  difference  of 
fully  2  feet  4  inches  exists  between  the  level  of  the 
water  in  the  tank  and  the  lower  end  of  the  goose- 


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TH 


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IVJACMU  FACTO  RE  RS     OF* 


and    ^/^fater  pleating  Apparatus 


OK     EVERY     DESCRIPTION 


MERCER  BOILER. 


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HUBER'SUGEGENSTROM 
Hot  Water  Apparatus 


FOR  INSTANT  PRODUCTION  OF  WARM  AND 
HOT  WATER  BY  MEANS  OF  STEAM. 


ESPECIALLY  ADAPTED  for  RAIN  BA  THS 
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This  apparatus  can  be  furnished  to  supply  from 
ore  to  twenty  douches.  It  instantly  heats  water  or 
other  fluids  to  any  desired  degree  of  temperature 
without  directly  introducing  steam  into  the  fluid, 
and  is,  therefore,  especially  adapted  for  bath  estab- 
lishments using  salt,  mineral,  and  other  medicinal 
waters. 

It  needs  no  hot-water  reservoir  or  boiler  and  is 
directly  connected  to  water  and  steam  pipes. 

The  ereat  danger  of  scalding  the  bather  is  avoided 
by  its  use.  as  the  highest  degree  of  temperature  sup- 
plied by  the  apparatus  designed  for  bathing  purposes 
cannot  exceed  110  degrees. 


"  Water  Heater 


For  Instantaneous  Production  of  Hot  Water 
at  Any  Desired  Temperature  by  means  of 
Exhaust  or  Low-Pressure  Steam. 


ESPECIALLY  ADAPTED  FOR  BREWERIES,  FAC- 
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Water  Heater: 


1.  Instantaneous  production  of  hot  water  at  any  temperature  and 

in  any  desired  quantity. 

2.  Perfect  condensation  of  the  exhaust  steam  without  back  pres- 

sure  on  the  enSine' 

3.  Small  size,  allowing  its  being  placed  in  corners  and  cramped 

spaces. 

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all  places  where  other  systems  for  providing  hot  water  are 
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Over  5OO  pp.— 2IO  Illustrations. 

YENTILATlONAND  HEATING. 

BY   JOHN    S.    BILLINGS,    A.  M.,    M.  D.v 

LL. D.  Edinb.  and  Harvard.    D.  C.  L.  Oxon.    Member  of  the 
National  Academy  ot  Sciences.    Surgeon,  U.  S.  Army,  etc. 


FROM  THE  PREFACE. 

{N  preparing  this  volume  my  object  has  been  to  produce  a  book  which  will 
not  only  be  useful  to  students  of  architecture  and  engineering,  and  be 
convenient  for  reference  by  those  engaged  in  the  practice  of  these  professions, 
but  which  can  also  be  understood  by  non-professional  men  who  may  be 
interested  in  the  important  subjects  of  which  it  treats;  and  hence  technical 
expressions  have  been  avoided  as  much  as  possible,  and  only  the  simplest 
f*rmulse  have  been  employed.  It  includes  all  that  is  practically  important 
of  my  book  on  the  Principles  of  Ventilation  and  Heating,  the  last  edition  of 
which  appeared  in  1889 ;  but  it  is  substantially  a  new  work,  with  numerous> 
illustrations  of  recent  practice.  For  many  of  these  I  am  indebted  to  THE: 
ENGINEERING  RECORD,  in  which  the  descriptions  first  appeared. 

I  am  aiso  indebted  to  Dr.  A.  C.  Abbott  for  much  valuable  assistance  in  its 
preparation,  and  to  the  architects  and  heating  engineers  who  have  furnished 
me  with  plans  and  information,  and  whose  names  are  mentioned  in  connection 
with  the  descriptions  of  the  several  buildings,  etc.,  referred  to  in  the  text. 

WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  JOHN  S.  BILLINGS. 

December,  1892. 

TABLE   OF   CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I.— Introduction.  Utility  of  Ven- 
tilation. 

CHAPTER  II.— History  and  Literature  of 
Ventilation. 

CHAPTER  III.— The  Atmosphere:  Its  Chem- 
ical and  Physical  Properties. 

CHAPTER  IV.— Carbonic  Acid. 

CHAPTER  V.— Conditions  Which  Make  Ven- 
tilation Desirable  or  Necessary.  Physi- 
ology of  Respiration.  Gaseous  and  Par- 
ticulate  Impurities  of  Air.  Sewer  Air. 
Soil  Air.  Dangerous  Gases  and  Dust*  in 
Particular.  Occupations  or  Processes  of 
Manufacture.  Drying  Rooms. 

CHAPTER  VI.— On  Moisure  in  Air,  and  Its 
Relations  to  Ventilation. 

CHAPTER  VII.— Quantity  of  Air  Required 
for  Ventilation. 

CHAPTER  VIII.— On  the  Forces  Concerned 
in  Ventilation. 

CHAPTER  IX.— Examination  and  Testing  ot 
Ventilation. 

CHAPTER  X.— Methods  of  Heating.  Stoves. 
Furnaces.  Fireplaces.  Steam  and  Hot 
Water.  Thermostats. 

CHAPTER  XL— Sources  of  Air  Supply.  Fil- 
tration of  Air.  Fresh-Air  Flues  and  In- 
lets. By-passes. 

CHAPTER  XII.— Foul-Air  or  Upcast  Shafts. 
Cowls.  Syphons. 

CHAPTER  XIII.— Ventilation  of  Mines. 

ADDRESS,  BOOK  DEPARTMENT, 


CHAPTER  XIV.— Ventilation  of  Hospitals 
and  Barracks .  Barrack  Hospitals.  Hos- 
pitals for  Contagious  Diseases.  Blegdams 
Hospital.  U.  S.  Army  Hospitals.  Cam- 
bridge Hospital.  Hazleton  Hospital. 
Barnes  Hospital.  New  York  Hospital. 
Johns  Hopkins  Hospital.  Hamburg  Hos- 
pital. Insane  Asylums.  Barracks 

CHAPTER  XV.— Ventilation  of  Halls  of 
Audience  and  Assembly  Rooms.  The 
Houses  of  Parliament.  The  U.  S.  Capitol. 
The  New  Sorbonne.  The  New  York 
Music  Hall.  The  Lenox  Lyceum. 

CHAPTER  XVI.— Ventilation  of  Theaters. 
Manchester  Theaters.  Grand  Opera  House- 
in  Vienna.  Opera  House  at  Frankiort-on- 
the-Main.  Metropolitan  Opera  House, 
New  York.  Madison  Square  Theater. 
Academy  of  Music,  Baltimore.  Pueblo- 
Opera  House.  Empire  Theater,  Philadel- 
phia. 

CHAPTER  XVII.— Ventilation  of  Churches. 
Dr.  Hall's  Church,  New  York.  Hebrew 
Temple,  Keneseth-Israel,  Philadelphia. 

CHAPTER  XVIIL— Ventilation  of  Schools. 
Bridgeport  School.  Jackson  School,  Min- 
neapolis. Garfield  School,  Chicago.  Bryn 
Mawr  School,  near  Philadelphia.  College 
of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  New  York. 

CHAPTER  XIX.— Ventilation  of  Dwelling 
Houses. 

CHAPTER  XX.  —  Ventilation  of  Tunnels, 
Railway  Cars,  Ships,  Shops,  Stables,  Sew- 
ers. Cooling  of  Air.  Conclusion. 


ENGINEERING     RECORD, 


100  WILLIAM  ST.,  NEW  YORK. 


L.  \Volff  rianufacturing  Company, 

PLUMBING  GOODS. 

Wolff's  Under=RolI  Rim  Enameled  Iron  Baths. 


The  "NEPTUNA." 


D— 109. 

General  Offices,  93  W.  LAKE  STREET.       CHICAGO. 
Illustrated  Circular   will   be   mailed   on  application. 


Show  Rooms,  91  DEARBORN  STREET. 
Branches — DENVER,   MINNEAPOLIS. 


Davis 

Purifyjng 

and 

Filtering 

Systems. 


Capacities  of  the  horizontal  Cylindrical  Filters  range  from  100,000 
to  1,000,000  gallons  each  in  24  hours,  according  to  size.  Our  upright 
Filters  are  essentially  the  same  in  construction  as  those  of  the  largest 
class.  Capacities  range  from  2,400  to  90,000  gallons  in  24  hours. 

CONTRACTS  MADE  FOR  FILTERS  AND 

FILTER  PLANTS  OF  ANY  CAPACITY. 

SATISFACTORY  RESULTS   GUARANTEED. 


PITTSBURGH    FILTER    CO, 

30   Sandusky  Street,  ALLEGHENY,    PA. 


— =  Loomis  ™ — 
Improved  •  Water  •  Filter 

FOR  PRIVATE  RESIDENCES,  OFFICE  BUILDINGS,  HOTELS, 

MANUFACTURING  ESTABLISHMENTS,  AND 

CITY  WATER  SUPPLIES. 


Estimates  furnished  for  large  and  small  plants.    Results  guaranteed. 

LOOM is-M AN  MING  FILTER  Co. 


402  Chestnut  St.,  PHILADELPHIA. 


77  Liberty  St.,  NEW  YORK  CITY. 


A  FACT 


Admitted  now  by  all,  that  Porcelain 
Enameled  Iron  Baths  are  superior  to 
all  others. 

THE  BRIGHTON. 


BEAUTIFUL,  SANITARY,  AND  DURABLE. 

We  make  all  styles  but  only  one  quality —  THE  BES  T. 
They  are  handled  by  all  first-class  supply  houses.  Architects 
who  require  the  best  specify  them. 

DA  WES  &  MYLER, 

Manufacturers, 

NKW    BRIQHTON,    F>A. 


PLUMBING  PROBLEMS; 


OR, 


Questions,  Answers  and  'Descriptions, 

FROM 

THE  ENGINEERING   RECORD, 

ESTABLISHED   1877. 

(Prior  to  1887,  THE  SANITARY  ENGINEER.) 


With  142  Illustrations. 

"A  feature  of  THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD  (prior  to  1887,  The  Sanitary  Engi- 
neer), is  its  replies  to  questions  on  topics  that  come  within  its  scope,  included  in  which 
are  Water- Supply,  Sewage  Disposal,  Ventilation,  Heating,  Lighting,  House-Drainage 
and  Plumbing.  Repeated  inquiries  concerning  matters  often  explained  in  its  columns, 
suggested  the  desirability  of  putting  in  a  convenient  form  for  reference  a  selection  from 
its  pages  of  questions  and  comments  on  various  problems  met  with  in  house-drainage 
and  plumbing,  improper  work  being  illustrated  and  explained  as  well  as  correct 
methods  It  is.  therefore,  hoped  that  this  book  will  be  useful  to  those  interested  in 
this  branch  of  Sanitary  Engineering." 


TABLE  OF 
DANGEROUS  BLUNDERS  IN  PLUMBING. 

Running  Vent-Pipe  in  Improper  Places— Con- 
necting Soil- Pipes  with  Chimney-Flues — By- 
Passes  in  Trap-Ventilation,  etc.  Illustrated. 

A  Case  of  Reckless  Botching.     Illustrated. 

A  Stupid  Multiplication  of  Traps.  Illustrated. 

Plumbing  Blunders  in  a  Gentleman's  Country 
House.  Illustrated. 

A  Trap  Made  Useless  by  Improper  Adjustment 
of  Inlet  and  Outlet  Pipes.  Illustrated. 

Unreliability  of  Heated  Flue  as  a  Substitute 
for  Proper  Trapping.  Illustrated. 

Need  of  Plans  in  Doing  Plumbing-Work. 

HOUSE-DRAINAGE. 

City  and  Country  House-Drainage — Removal 
of  Ground-Water  from  Houses— Trap-Ventila- 
tion— Fresh-Air  Inlets — Drain-Ventilation  by 
Heated  Flues — Laying  of  Stoneware  Drains. 

Requirements  for  the  Drainage  of  Every  House. 

Drainage  of  a  Saratoga  House.     Illustrated. 

Ground-Water  Drainage  of  a  Country-House. 
Illustrated. 

Ground- Water  Drainage  of  arCity  House.  Il- 
lustrated. 

Fresh-Air  Inlets. 

The  Location  of  Fresh-Air  Inlets  in  Cities. 
Illustrated. 

Fresh- Air  Inlets.     Illustrated. 

Air-Inlets  on  Drains. 

The  Proper  Way  to  Lay  Stoneware  Drains. 

Risks  Attending  the  Omission  of  Traps  and  Re- 
lying on  Drain- Ventilation  by  Flues.  Illustrated. 

The  Tightness  of  Tile-Diains. 

Danger  of  Soil-Pipe  Terminals  Freezing  unless 
Ends  are  without  Hoods  or  Cowls. 

Objection  to  Connecting  Bath-Waste  with 
Water-Closet  Trap. 

How  to  Adjust  the  Inlets  and  Outlets  of  Traps. 
Illustrated. 

How  to  Protect  Trap  when  Soil-Pipe  is  used  as 
a  Leader. 

Size  of  Ventilating-Pipes  for  Traps. 

How  to  Prevent  Condensation  Filling  Vent  - 
Pipes. 

Ventilating  Soil-Pipes. 

How  to  Prevent  Accidental  Discharge  into  Trap 
Vent-Pipe. 

Why  Traps  should  be  Vented. 


CONTENTS : 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

Syphoning  Water  through  a  Bath-Supply. 
Illustrated. 

Emptying  a  Trap  by  Capillary  Attraction.  Il- 
lustrated. 

As  to  Safety  of  Stop-Cocks  on  Hot  Water 
Pipes. 

How  to  Burnish  Wiped  Joints. 

Admission  to  the  New  York  Trade  Schools. 

Irregular  Water  Supply.     Illustrated. 

Hot  Water  from  the  Cold  Faucet,  and  how  to 
Prevent  it.  Illustrated. 

Disposal  of  Bath  and  Basin  Waste  Water. 

To  Prevent  Corrosion  of  Tank  Lining. 

Number  of  Water  Closets  Required  in  a  Fac- 
tory. 

Size  of  Basin  Wastes  and  Outlets. 

Tar  Coated  Water  Pipe  Affect  Taste  of  Water. 

How  to  Deal  with  Pollution  of  Cellar  Floors. 

How  to  Heat  a  Bathing  Pool. 

Objections  to  Galvanized  Sheet  Iron  Soil  Pipe. 

To  Prevent  Rust  in  a  suction  Pipe. 

Automatic  Shut  Off  for  Gas  Pumping  Engines 
when  Tank  is  Full.  Illustrated. 

Paint  to  Protect  Tank  Linings. 

Vacuum  Valves  not  always  Reliable. 

Size  of  Water  Pipes  in  a  House. 

How  to  Make  Rust  Joints. 

Covering  for  Water  Pipes. 

Size  of  Soil  Pipe  for  an  ordinary  City  House. 

How  to  Construct  a  Sunken  Reservoir  to  Hold 
Two  Thousand  Gallons. 

Where  to  Place  Burners  to  Ventilate  Flues  by 
Gas  Jets.  Illustrated. 

How  to  Prevent  Water  Hammer. 

Why  a  Hydraulic  Ram  does  not  Work. 

Air  in  Water  Pipes. 

Proper  Size  of  Water  Closet  Outlets. 

Is  a  Cement  Floor  Impervious  to  Air  ? 

Two  Traps  to  a  Water  Closet  Objectionable. 

Connecting  Bath  Wastes  to  Water  Closet 
Traps.  Illustrated. 

Objections  to  Leaching  Cesspool  and  need  of 
Fresh  Air  Inlet. 

The  Theory  of  the  Action  of  Field's  Syphon. 

How  to  Disinfect  a  Cesspool. 

Drainage  into  Cesspools. 

Slabs  for  Pantry  Sinks— Wood  vs.  Marine- 

Test  for  Well  Pollution. 

Cesspool  for  Privy  Vault. 


PLUMBING    PROBLEMS. 


Corrosion  of  Lead  Lining. 

Size  of  Flush  1  ank  to  deal  with  Sewage  of  a 
Small  Hospital. 

Details  of  the  Construction  of  a  House-Tank. 
Illustrated. 

The  Construction  of  a  Cistern  under  a  House. 

To  Protect  Lead  Lining  of  a  Tank,  and  Cause 
of  Sweating. 

Stains  on  Marble. 

Lightning  Strikes  Soil  Pipes. 

Will  the  Contents  of  a  Cesspool  Freeze  ? 

Bad  Tasting  Water  from  a  Coil.    Illustrated. 

How  to  Fit  Sheet  Lead  in  a  Large  Tank. 

Why  Water  is  "  Milky  "  When  First  Drawn. 

Material  for  Water  Service  Pipes. 

Carving  Tables.     Illustrated. 

Is  Galvanized  Pipe  Dangerous  for  Soft  Spring 
Water. 

How  to  Arrange  Hush  Pipes  in  Cisterns  to  Pre- 
vent Syphoning  Water  Through  Ball  Cock. 

Depth  of  Foundations  to  Prevent  Dampness  of 
Site. 

WhTe  to  Place  a  Tank  to  get  Good  Discharge 
at  Faucet. 

Self  Acting  Water  Closets.     Illustrated. 

Wind  Disturbing  Seal  of  Trap. 

How  to  Draw  Water  from  a  Deep  Well. 

Cause  of  Smell  of  Well  Water. 

Absorption  of  Light  by  Gas  Globes. 

Defective  Drainage.    Illustrated. 

/itting  Basins  to  Marble  Slabs.   Illustrated. 

Intermediate  Tanks  for  the  Water  Supply  of 
High  Buildings.  Illustrated. 

How  to  Construct  a  Filtering  Cistern.  Illus- 
trated. 

Objections  to  Running  Ventilating  Pipe  Into 
•Chimney-Flue. 

Size  of  Water  Supply  Pipe  for  Dwelling  House. 

Faulty  Plan  of  a  Cesspool.    Illustrated. 

Connecting  Refrigerator  Wastes  with  Drains. 
Illustrated. 

Disposing  of  Refrigerator  Wastes.  Illustrated. 

Pumping  Air  From  Water  Closet  into  Tea 
Kettle  as  Result  of  Direct  Supply  to  Water 
Closets.  Illustrated. 

Danger  in  Connecting  Tank  Overflows  with 
Soil  Pipes. 

Arrangement  of  Safe  Wastes.    Illustrated. 

The  kind  of  Men  Who  do  not  Like  the  Sani- 
tary Engineer 

What  is  Reasonable  Plumbers'  Profit. 

HOT  WATER  CIRCULATION  IN  BUILD- 
INGS. 

Bath  Boilers.    Illustrated. 

Setting  Horizontal  Boilers.    Illustrated. 


How  to  Secure  Circulation  Between  Boilers  in 
Different  Houses.  Illustrated. 

Connecting  One  Boiler  with  Two  Ranges. 
Illustrated. 

Taking  Return  Below  Boiler.    Illustrated. 

Trouble  with  Boiler. 

An  Ignorant  Way  of  Dealing  with  a  Kitchen 
Boiler.  Illustrated. 

Returning  into  Hot  Water  Supply  Pipe.  Illus- 
trated. 

Where  should  Sediment  Pipe  from  Boiler  be 
connected  with  Waste-Pipe  ? 

Several  Flow  Pipes  and  one  Circulation  Pipe. 
Illustrated. 

How  to  Run  Pipes  from  Water  Back  to  Boiler. 
Illustrated. 

Hot  Water  Circulation  when  Pipes  from  Boiler 
pass  under  the  Floor.  Illustrated. 

Heating  a  Room  from  Water  Back. 

The  Operation  of  Vacuum  and  Safety  Valves. 
Illustrated. 

Preventing  Collapse  of  Boilers. 

Collapse  of  a  Boiler.    Illustrated. 

Explosion  of  Water  Backs. 

A  Proposed  Precaution  against  Water  Back 
Explosions.  Illustrated. 

The  Bursting  of  Kitchen  Boilers  and  Connect- 
ing Pipes.  Illustrated. 

Giving  out  of  Lead  Vent  Pipes  from  Boilers  in 
an  Apartment  House.  Illustrated. 

Connecting  a  Kitchen  Boiler  with  One  or  More 
Water  Backs.  Illustrated. 

New  Method  of  Heating  Two  Boilers  by  Ons 
Water  Back.  Illustrated. 

Plan  of  Horizontal  Hot  Water  Boiler.  Illus- 
trated. 

HOT    WATER    SUPPLY   IN    VARIOUS 
BUILDINGS. 

Kitchen  and  Hot  Water  Supply  in  the  Resi- 
dence of  Mr.  W.  K.  Vanderbilt,  New  York. 
Illustrated. 

Kitchen  and  Hot  Water  Supply  in  the  Resi- 
dence of  Mr.  Cornelius  Vanderbilt,  New  York. 
Illustrated. 

Kitchen  and  Hot  Water  Supply  in  the  Resi- 
dence of  Mr.  Henry  G.  Marquand,  New  York. 
Illustrated. 

Kitchen  and  Hot  Water  Supply  in  the  Resi- 
dence of  Mr.  A.  J.  White.  Illustrated. 

Hot  Water  Supply  in  an  Office  Building.  Illus- 
trated. 

Kitchen  and  Hot  Water  Supply  in  the  Resi- 
dence of  Mr.  Sidney  Webster.  Illustrated. 

Plumbing  and  Water  Supply  in  the  Residence 
of  Mr.  H.  H.  Cook.  Illustrated. 


Large  8vo.  cloth,  $2.oo. 
Address,  BOOK  DEPARTMENT, 

THE    ENGINEERING    RECORD, 


f.  O.  BOX  3037. 


ioo  WILLIAM  ST.,  NEW  YORK. 


The 
Wilson 
Solid 
Copper 
Bath  Tub 


REGULAR  PATTERN.  -SOLID  COPPER  TUB. 


Iron  or  Steel  to  Rust. 


Enamel  to  Chip. 
Made  in  Regular  French  and  Roman  Patterns. 


HOSPITAL  BATH. -SOLID  COPPER  TUB. 


Send  for  our  New  Catalogue  on 
Closet  Tanks  and  Seats,  Copper 
Range  Boilers,  and  General 
Brass  and  Copper  Work 


BY_ 


Manufacturers 
of--- 


R.  M.  WILSON, 


NEW  YORK  Office  and  Salesroom,  92  Walker  St. 


ROME,    N.  Y. 


RAYMOND  LEAD  COMPANY, 


CHICAGO,     U.  5.  A. 


Manufacturers  of 

Lead=Pipe  and  Sheet=Lead, 


The  only  Ferrule  made  with 


Extra  Thickness  of  lead  over  shoulder. 


Drawn  Lead=Traps  and  Bends, 

Raymond's  Combination  Ferrule, 

Solders,  Babbitt=Metal  and 

...Lead  Specialties... 

SEND   FOR   CIRCULAR   AND    PRICE-LIST. 


T*f  ur-M-**     |  n 

1  he  Tideway 

Siphon-Jet 

Closet 

is  simple  in  construc- 
tion, absolutely  noise- 
less in  action,  and  is 
the  best  closet  on  the 
market  for  Hotels  and 
Residences. 

Our  S^ew  "Tideway"  Automatic 
Urinal,  intended  specially 
for  Public  Buildings,  can 
be  seen  in  operation  at  our 
Show  Room. 


Minton's 
Tiles 

are  so  well  known  as 
to  scarcely  need  ad- 
vertising. Just  a  re- 
minder that  we  are 
sole  importers. 

Glazed 
Tiles 

for  Bath  Rooms  of 
the  very  best  quality. 
Free  from  crazing. 


THE    "TIDEWAY.*' 


MILLER  &  COATES, 


279    PEARL  ST. 
NEW  YORK. 


Importers  of  and  dealers  in  all  kinds  of  Plumbing  Specialties. 


AMERICAN 

STEAM  AND  Hoi- WATER  HEATING 

PRACTICE. 

FROM   THE    ENGINEERING    RECORD. 


(Prior  to  1887  The  Sanitary  Engineer.) 


A  SELECTED   REPRINT   OF  DESCRIPTIVE   ARTICLES,  QUESTIONS, 

AND  ANSWERS. 


WITH    FIVE    HUNDRED   AND   EIGHTY-FIVE    ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PREFACE. 

THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD  (prior  to  1887  THE  SANITARY  ENGINEER)  has  for  sixteen  years 
made  its  department  of  Steam  and  Hot- Water  Heating  and  Ventilation  a  prominent  feature. 
Besides  the  weekly  illustrated  descriptions  of  notable  and  interesting-  current  work,  a  great 
variety  of  questions  in  this  field  have  been  answered.  In  1888  Steam-Heading:  Problems  was  pub- 
lished. This  was  a  selection  of  questions,  answers,  and  descriptions  that  had  been  published  during 
the  preceding  nine  years,  and  dealt  mainly  with  steam  heating.  The  present  book  is  intended  to 
supplement  this  former  publication,  and  includes  a  selection  of  the  descriptions  of  hot- water,  steam- 
heating,  and  ventilating  installations  in  the  different  classes  of  buildings  in  the  United  States,  pre- 
pared by  the  staff  of  THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD,  besides  a  collection  of  questions  and  answers  on 
problems  arising  in  this  department  of  building  engineering,  covering  the  period  since  1888,  in  which 
the  heating  of  dwellings  by  hot  water  has  become  popular  in  the  United  States.  The  favor  with 
which  Steam-Heating  Problems  has  been  received  encourages  the  hope  that  American  Steam  and 
Hot- Water  Practice  may  likewise  prove  useful  to  those  who  design,  construct,  and  have  change  of 
ventilating  and  heating  apparatus. 

TABLE    OF*    CONTENTS. 

HEATING  OF  RESIDENCES  AND  APARTMENT  HOUSES. 

Alternate  Steam  or  Hot-Water  Heating  of  a  Residence.  (Three  Illustrations.)--Heating  and 
Ventilation  of  a  Philadelphia  Suburban  Residence.  (Five  Illustrations.)— Hot- Water  Heating  in 
a  Chicago  Residence.  (Pour  Illustrations.)— Hot- Water  Heating  in  a  City  Residence.  (Five  Illus- 
trations.)—Hot- Water  Heating  in  a  Country  Residence.  (Three  Illustrations.)— Hot- Water  Heat- 
ing in  a  Melrose,  Mass.,  Residence.  (Three  Illustrations.)— Hot- Water  Heating  in  the  Office  and 
Salesrooms  of  the  Murphy  &  Co.'s  Varnish  Works,  Newark,  N.  J.  (Three  Illustrations.)— Hot- 
Water  Heating  of  a  Store.  (Two  Illustrations.)— Hot-Water  Heating  of  Suburban  Residence. 
{Four  Illustrations.)— Hot- Water  Heating  Plant  in  a  Brooklyn  Residence.  (Six  Illustrations.)— 
Hot- Water  Radiators  Below  the  Boiler  Level.  (Two  Illustrations.)— Indirect  Heating  in  a 
Residence.  (Five  Illustrations.)— Indirect  Steam  or  Hot- Water  Heating  in  a  Massachusetts 
Residence.  (Four  Illustrations.)— Remodeled  Heating  Plant  in  a  City  Residence.  (Four  Illus- 
trations.)—Unusual  Piping  in  a  Hot- Water  Heating  Apparatus.  (Three  Illustrations.)— Ventila- 
tion and  Heating  of  the  Residence  of  Mr.  Cornelius  Vanderbilt.  (Six  Illustrations.) 

HEATING  OF  CHURCHES. 

Heating  and  Ventilation  of  a  Baltimore  Church.  (Six  Illustrations.)— Heating  and  Ventilation  of  a 
Rocktord  Church.  (Three  Illustrations. )— Heating  of  the  Temporary  Chapel,  Cathedral  ef  St.  John 
the  Divine.  (One  Illustration.) — Hot- Water  Heating  Apparatus  in  a  Danbury,  Conn.,  Church. 
(Three  Illustrations.)— Hot- Water  Heating  in  a  Church  and  Rectory.  (Eleven  Illustrations.)— 
One-Pipe  Hot- Water  Heating  of  a  Church.  (Three  Illustrations.)— Hot-Water  Heating  of  a  City 
Church.  (Five  Illustrations.)— Steam  Heating  in  Trinhv  Church,  New  York.  (Five  Illustrations.) 
—Steam  Heating  of  a  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  Church.  (Two  Illustrations.)— Steam  Heating  of  a  Church. 
(Two  Illustrations.)— Ventilation  and  Heating  of  St.  Augustine's  Church,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 
(Three  Illustrations.) 

HEATING  OF  SCHOOLS. 

Heating  and  Ventilating  a  Milwaukee  School.  ( Nine  Illustrations.)— Heating  and  Ventilating  in  the 
Engineering  Building  of  the  Massachusetts  Institute  of  Technology.  (Four  Illustrations.)— Heat- 
ing and  Ventilation  of  the  Jefferson  School,  Duluth,  Minn.  (Seven  Illustrations.)— Heating  and 
Ventilating  of  yanderbilt  Hall,  Yale  College.  (One  Illustration.)— Hot- Water  Heating  in  the  Con- 
vent of  the  Visitation,  St.  Louis,  Mo.  (Ten  Illustrations.)— Hot- Water  Heating  in  the  New  Poly- 
technic Institute,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  (Fifteen  Illustrations.)— Steam  Heating  and  Ventilating  Plant 
in  the  Irving  School,  West  Dubuque,  Iowa.  (Three  Illustrations )— Steam-Heating  Plant  In  the 
Hill  Seminary.  (Eleven  Illustrations.)— Ventilation  and  Heating  of  a  School  Building.  (Three 
Illustrations.)— Ventilation  and  Warming  of  the  New  High  School,  Montclair,  N.  J.  (Ten  Illus- 
t-ations.)— Warming  and  Ventilating  in  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  New  York. 
(Five  Illustrations.) 


AMERICAN  STEAM   AND   HOT-WATER  HEATING  PRACTICE. 

HEATING  OF  THEATERS  AND  AMUSEMENT  HALLS. 
Heating  and  Ventilating  the  New  York  Music  Hall.    (Seventeen  Illustrations.) — Ventilation  and 

Heating  ot  the  American  Theater,  New  York.    (Eleven  Illustrations.) 
HEATING  OF  PUBLIC  BUILDINGS. 

Heating  and  Ventilation  ot  the  Suffolk  County  Court-House.  (Ninety-seven  Illustrations.)— Re- 
modeling the  Ventilating  Plant  in  a  New  York  Court-House.  (Two  Illustrations.) 

HEATING  OF  HOSPITALS. 

Heating  and  Ventilating  rf  a  Reception  Hospital.  (Four  Illustrations.)— Heating  and  Ventilation 
in  the  Johns  Hopkins  Hospital,  Baltimore,  M  J.  (Fifty-one  Illustrations.)— Heating  and  Ventila- 
tion of  Mount  Vernon,  N.  Y.,  Hospital.  (Six  Illustrations.)— Heating  and  Ventilation  of  the  Royal 


Heating  at  Sanford  Hall.    (Twelve  Illustrations.) — Wet  Air-screen  for  Ventilating  Purposes. 

HEATING  OF  RAILWAY  SHOPS. 

Heating  and  Ventilating  a  Roundhouse  and  Railroad  Shop.  (Four  Illustrations.)— Hot- Water 
Heating  of  an  Elevated  Railroad  Station.  (Six  Illustrations  )— Steam  Heating  in  the  Boston  and 
Albany  Railroad  Stations  at  Springfield,  Mass.  (Two  Illustrations.)— Steam-Heating  Plant  for 
Northern  Pacific  Railroad  Shops.  (Thirty  Illustrations  J— Vacuum  Circulation  Steam-Heating 
System.  (Three  Illustrations.) 

HEATING  OF  HOTELS. 

Steam  Heating  in  the  Holland  House.  (Twelve  Illustrations.)— Steam  Plant  in  the  New  Nether, 
land  Hetel.  (Fourteen  Illustrations.)— Steam  Heating  in  the  Plaza  Hotel,  New  York.  (Thirty- 
eight  Illustrations.)— Ventilation  of  the  New  Netherland  Hotel.  (Six  Illustrations  ) 

HEATING  OF  OFFICE  BUILDINGS. 

Heating  and  Ventilating  the  Walbridge  Office  Building,  Toledo,  O.  (Nine  Illustrations.)— Heating 
and  Ventilation  of  a  New  Haven  Office  Building.  (Two  Illustrations.)— Heating  in  the  Wain- 
wright  Building,  St.  Louis,  Mo.  (Eight  Illustrations.)— Heating  of  the  Columbus  Building  in 
Chicage.  (Seven  Illustrations.)— Power  and  Heating  Plant,  Manhattan  Life  Insurance  Building. 
(Eight  Illustrations.)— Test  of  a  Steam-Heating  Plant  in  the  Carter  Building.  (One  Illustration. 

MISCELLANEOUS  HEATING  INSTALLATIONS. 

Fire  Under  a  Boiler-room  Floor.  (Two  Illustrations.)— Heating  a  Florist's  Delivery  Van.  (Two 
Illustrations.)— Heating  of  a  Minneapolis  Store.  (Four  Illustrations.)— Heating  of  the  Horticul- 
tural Building,  World's  Columbian  Exposition.  (Four  Illustrations.) — Steam  Pipe  Conduit.  (Six 
Illustrations )— Utilization  of  Low-Pressure  Steam  for  Heating  and  Elevator  Service.  (Four 
Illustrations.; 

STEAM-HEATING  NOTES  AND  QUERIES. 
BOILER  PROPORTIONS. 

Figuring  the  Capacity  of  Steam-Heating  Boilers. — Heating  a  Swimming  Bath.— Heating  Boiler 
Proportions.— Horse-Power  of  Heating  Boilers.— How  to  Proportion  Radiat  ng  Surface.— How  to 
Find  the  Boiler  Surface  when  the  Radiating  Surface  is  Known. — Proportions  of  Boiler  and 
Radiating  Surface.— Steam  Heating  of  a  Public  Building.    (One  Illustration.) 
CONDENSATION  NECESSARY. 

Amount  of  Radiation  in  Indirect  Stacks.— Heating  Surface  Required  to  Heat  Water  in  Tank.— 
Proportioning  of  Radiation.— Relative  Condensation  in  Heati-ig  Apparatus.— Rules  for  Estimat- 
ing Radiating  Surface  for  Heating  Buildings.— Rules  for  Figuring  Steam-Heating  Surface.— 
Steam  Consumption  for  Heating  in  New  York  in  Different  Months. — Steam-Heating  Estimate 
Wanted.— Steam-Heating  Surface  for  Drying-rooms. 

COST  ON  STEAM  HEATING. 
Charge  for  Heating  Surface.— Estimating  Cost  of  Steam. 

COAL  REQUIRED. 
Amount  of  Coal  Required  to  Heat  Water  from  40  to  200  Degrees.— Steam  Required  for  Heating  a 

Railway  Train. 
METHODS  OF  HEATING. 
Direct-Indirect  versus  Indirect  Heating  for  Large  Buildings. — Direct  or  Indirect  Radiation  for 

Schoolhouses.— Heating  by  the  Gravity  System.— High  and  Low  Pressure  Heating. 
ONE-PIPE  SYSTEMS. 

Comparative  Merits  of  the  One  and  Two-Pipe  Systems  of  Steam  Heating.— Defective  Circulation 
in  a  One-Pipe  Heating  Job.    (Two  Illustrations.)— One-Pine  System  and  Its  Relief  Pipes.— One- 
Pipe  System  for  Heating  Two  Rooms  by  Steam.    (One  Illustration.) — Why  do  Steam-HeatiLg 
Concerns  Condemn  the  One-Pipe  System  of  Steam  Heating  ? 
EXHAUST-STEAM  HEATING. 

Heating  by  Exhaust  Steam,  Engine  Horse-Power,  Sizes  of  Flues  and  Registers.— Heat  of  Exhaust 
Steam.    (One  Illustration.)— Method  of  Using  Exhaust  Steam  to  Warm  Building's.    (One  Illus- 
tration.)—Steam  Heating  at  the  Edison  Phonographic  Works,  Llewellyn,  N.  J.    (Three  Illustra- 
tions.)—When  is  it  Economical  to  Use  Exhaust  Steam  for  Heating  ? 
SYSTEMS  OF  PIPING. 

Butt  Joints  in  Main  Return  Pipe  Below  the  Water  Line.    (One  Illustration.)— By-Pass  Around  a 
Steam  Meter.    (One  Illustration.)— Connecting  Steam  and  Return  Risers.    (One  Illustration.)— 
Gravity  versus  Return  Trap  Systems  of  Heating  by  Steam.— Heating  Coils  in  a  Steam  Boiler 
Firebox.     (One  Illustration.)— Overhead   Steam    Heating.— Pump-Governor  Heating    System. 
(One  Illustration.)— Pump  Return  System  of  Steam  Heating.    (One  Illustration.) — Radiator  and 
Coil  Connections  Under  the  Mills  System.    (Two  Illustrations.) — Radiator  Connections. — Return- 
ing Water  of  Condensation  to  a  Boiler.    (One  Illustration.)— Steam  Returns  Near  the  Water 
Level.    (One  Illustration.)— Where  to  Place  a  Reducing  Valve.    (One  Illustration.) 
EXPANSION  OF  PIPING. 
Expansion  of  Steam  Pipes.— Pipe  Supports  and  Connections  for  a  Boiler.    (One  Illustration.) 


AMERICAN  STEAM  AND   HOT-WATER   HEATING   PRACTICE. 

TROUBLE  WITH  APPARATUS. 

An  Elevated  Retuin  and  Water  Level.  (One  Illustration  )— Decreased  Heating  Power  of  Coil*. — 
Defective  Circulation  in  a  Steam-Heating  Job.  (One  Illustration.; — Failure  in  bteam  Heating 
from  Careless  Management.  (One  Illustration.)— Failure  of  a  Boiler  to  Heat  Water.— Faulty  Ar- 
rangement of  Cvlinder  Drips.  (One  Illustration.)— Improper  Arrangement  of  Drip  Pipes  in  a  Heat- 
ing and  Power  System.  (One  Illustration.)— Noise  Caused  in  the  Mains  of  a  Steam- Heating  Appa- 
ratus by  an  Improperly  Arranged  Relief  Pipe.  (Two  Illustrations.)— Trouble  with  a  Steam- Heating 
and  Power  Plant.  (One  Illustration.)— Trouble  with  a  Steam-Heating  Plant.  (One  Illustration.) 
PIPE  SIZES. 

Questions  About  Steam  Heating.— Steam-Heating  Problems.    (One  Illustration.) 
AIR  VALVES. 

Air  Valve  for  Steam  Coils.    (One  Illustration.)— Can  an  A''r  Valve  on  a  Radiator  Syphon  Water 

from  a  Boiler?— Circulation  in  a  Church  Steam- Heating  System.    (One  Illustration.) 
MISCELLANEOUS. 

About  a  Stop  Valve  on  a  Heating  Main.— Circulation  in  Heating  Tanks. —Cold  A'r  from  a  Steam- 
Heating  Radiator.— Combustible  Gas  from  a  Hot-Water  Heater. — Continuous  Use  of  Water  in  a 
Steam-Heating  Boiler. — Heat-Conducting  Properties  of  Building  Materials.— Letting  Cold  Water 
into  a  Heating  Boiler.— Measuring  Pipe  in  Forty-five  Degree  Fitting.  (One  Illustration.)— Method 
of  Regulating  Draft  by  Expansion  Tank.  (One  Illustration.) — Objection  to  Three  Lugs  on  a  Boiler. 
— Radiating  Surface  and  Reduced  Steam  Pressures. — Responsibility  for  Freezing  of  Steam  Coils. 
— Smead  System  for  Schools.— Steamfitter's  Knock-Down  Bench.  (One  Illustration. — To  Prevent 
Rust  in  Heating  Boilers  During  the  Summer. — Trouble  from  Priming.  (Two  Illustrations.) 

HOT-WATER  HEATING  NOTES  AND  QUERIES. 
GREENHOUSES. 
Heating  a  Greenhouse.    (One  Illustration  )— Heating  Water  for  Watering  Greenhouses.     (Two 

Illustrations.)— Hot- Water  Heating  of  a  Greenhouse.    (One  Illustration.) 
TROUBLE  WITH  APPARATUS. 

Impaired  Circulation  of  a  Hot- Water  Heating  System.  (One  Illustration.)— Trap  in  a  Hot-Wa^er 
Heating  Return  Pipe.  (One  Illustration.)— Trouble  with  a  Hot- Water  Heating  System.  (One 
Illustration. 

ONE-PIPE  HOT-WATER  JOB. 
One-Pipe  Hot- Water  Jobs. 
FUEL  CONSUMPTION. 

Excessive  Fuel  Consumption  in  a  Hot- Water  Heater. 
HEATING  BELOW  THE  WATER  LEVEL. 

Hot- Water  Heating  at  the  Boiler  Level.     (One  Illustration.)— Hot- Water  Radiators  on  a  Level 
with  Boiler. — Hot- Water  Heating  on  Three  Floors.    (One  Illustration.)— Piping  for  Hot- Water 
Radiators  on  Boiler  Level. 
EXPANSION  TANKS. 

Connection  to  an  Expansion  Tank.    (One  Illustration.)— Danger  from  Closed  Hot- Water  Apparatus. 
(Three  Illustrations.)— Expansion  Tank  Connection.    (One  Illustration.)— Position  of  Expansion 
Tank  in  Hot- Water  Heating  Apparatus.    (One  Illustration.) 
METHODS  OF  PIPING. 

Hot-Water  Circulation  Question.— Hot  Water  from  the  Return  Pipes.— Hot- Water  Radiator  Con- 
nections to  a  Steam-Heating  Boiler.  (Two  Illustrations.)— Increased  Hot- Water  Supply  Wanted. 
— Large  versus  Small  Diameters  for  Hot- Water  Heating  Pipes.— Pitch  of  Hot- Water  Heating 
Pipes. — Warming  a  Jail  bv  Hot-Water.  (Five  Illustrations.) — Warming  the  Water  Supply  by 
Sttam.  (One  Illustration.) 
MISCELLANEOUS  QUERIES. 

Cleaning  Out  a  Hot- Water  Heater.— Friction  of  Elbows  in  Hot- Water  Pipe.— Gas  in  Hot- Water 
Radiators. — Heating  a  Carving  Table.    (One  Illustration. )— Heating  and  Ventilation  of  a  Church. 
(On«  Illustration.)— Heating  by  Steam  from  an  Electric  Light  Plant.— Temperature  Observations 
of  Hot- Water  Pipes.— To  Prevent  Hot- Water  Radiators  from  Freezing  When  Not  in  Use. 
HEATING  SURFACE. 
Efficiency  of  Hot -Water  Radiators. — Pipe  Surface  for  Greenhouse  Warming. 

VENTILATION  NOTES  AND  QUERIES. 
LOUVERS. 
Damper  to  Prevent  Back  Drafts.    (Two  Illustrations.)— Louver  in  Ventilator  of  Trainshed  Roof  to 

Let  Out  Smoke  and  Exclude  Snow.    (Seven  Illustrations.) 
SIZE  OF  FLUES. 

Exhaust  Ventilation  Unused.— Size  of  Chimney  Flue  for  Boiler. — Size  of  Ventilating  Flue. 
SIZE  OF  REGISTERS. 

Allowance  for  Friction  in  Register  Openings.     (One  Illustration .)— Heating  and  Ventilating  a 
Hospital.      (One  Illustration.)— How  Much  Cold   Air  to  Admit  and  How  to  Retain  It  When 
Warmed.— Prison  Ventilation.— Ratio  of  Register  Area  to  Radiating  Surface.— Simple  Damper 
Regulator.    (One  Illustration.)— Ventilating  a  Vault.    (Two  Illustrations.) 
UNWISE  HEATING  CONTRACTS. 

Heating  Guarantee  and  Zero  Weather.— Heating  Guarantee  and  Zero  Weather. — Required  Heat- 
ing of  Buildings  to  "Seventy  Degrees  in  Zero  Weather." 


SENT  POSTPAID  ON  RECEIPT  OF  $4.00. 
Address  Book  Department,  THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD,     100  William  St.,  New  York. 


THE  TRENTON  POTTERIES  Co. 


CRESCENT 

POTTERY. 

DELAWARE 

POTTERY. 

EMPIRE 

POTTERY. 

ENTERPRISE 

POTTERY. 

EQUITABLE 

POTTERY. 


IDEAL 


POTTERY. 


TRENTON,  N.  J. 

Largest  Manufacturers  of 
Sanitary  Earthenware  in  the 
World,  and  make  the  Leading  Spec- 
ialties in  America.  Our 

VITREOUS  CHINA, 

Sanitary,  is  recognised  by  the  Archi- 
tects and  Engineers  of  the  Country 
as  the  very  best  Ware  ever  produced. 
Our  Stamp  on  Ware  is  a  guar- 
antee of  quality.  We  beg  to  caution 
our  patrons  not  to  confound  our 
Ware  with  that  produced  by  other 
Trenton  potteries. 


OUR   PRODUCT 

GUARANTEED 

SUPERIOR 

TO  ANY 

IMPORTED 

WARE 

AS  TO  STYLE, 
QUALITY, 

AND 
DURABILITY. 


TRADE  MARK. 


The 


Ahrens  &  Ott  Manufacturing  Co. 

INCORPORATED, 

GUARANTEE    THE    QUALITY    OF    THEIR 

White  •  Enameled  •  Baths. 


Besides  French  Pattern,  Wood  and  Roll  Rim,  we  make 


THE  "IDEAL," 

Under-Roll  Rim. 


"COLUMBIA," 

Half  Round  and  Roll  Rim. 


'OLYMPIAN," 

;-in.  Under-Roll  Rim. 


THE  "VEDORA," 

4f-in.  Under-Roll  Rim. 


"LUXURIA," 

4-in.  Flat  Top  Under-Roll. 


"DIANA," 

3^-in.  Roll  Rim. 


The  ''Favorite"  is  all  its  name  implies.    It  is  roomy,  comfortable,  and  cheap. 


WE  ALSO 

MANUFACTURE 


PLAIN,  TARRED.  AND  ENAMELED  SOIL  PIPE  AND  FITTINGS 


Tested  to  50  Pounds 
Water  Pressure, 


The  Enamel  on  our  Baths  is  Pure 


Enamel  on  our  Baths  is  Pure  )  T    /~VT  TTC^^V  TXT    T    TIT*- 

White,  Hard  and  Glossy.        i         LOUIS  VlIvLE^, 


|  Enameled  Soil  Pipe  is  the  Best  for 
i  House  Drainage. 


CRIBBEN,  SEXTON  &  CO. 

MANUFACTURERS  OF 

STRICTLY    HIGH    GRADE 

ENAMELED   IRON  BATH-TUBS, 

SINKS  AND  LAUNDRY  TUBS. 

I,  a« 


^^Hliliisi^HMIliiiii!,:!,  HHHIIg  HSU  HR 


IMPERIAL. 

5O    to    1OO  Erie  Street,    and   57   to   67   Ontario    Street,    CHICAGO,   ILLS. 

Henry  Hussey  &  Co. 

MANUFACTURERS  AND 
DEALERS  IN 

PLUMBERS' 
SUPPLIES 

84  Harrison  Avenue, 

BOSTON,  MASS. 


BASIN,  BATH, 
URINAL,   WASH 


TRAPS. 


THOS.  MADDOCK  &  SONS 


PIONEER  MANUFACTURERS  of 

Sanitary 
Earthenware 


EVERY  DESCRIPTION. 


All 

Specialties 
Pertaining 
to  the 
Plumbing 
Business 
or  for  other 
purposes. 


FACTORY: 
TRENTON,  N.  J. 


OFFICE   A\D  WAREROOMS: 

NEW  YORK,  51  CLIFF  STREET, 

W.  W.  PKRBINK,  Manager. 


No.  1  "Co  H. 
Ball  Cock. 


No.  2  "C.  H."  Ball  Cock. 


WITHOUT 
SHUT-OFF 
VALVE. 


\A/1  T  H 

^     ^  THE  "  C.  H."  Ball  Cock  closes  with  the  water  pressure 

SHUT-OFF         jpOIBli 

VALVE.         JETliSff  and  is  absolutely  noiseless  under  extreme  pressures* 

The  feature  of  controlling  the  water  supply  by  a  valve 
in  combination  with  the  ball  cock  is  one  that  commends, 
itself  to  all  Plumbers  and  Architects  in  setting  up  tanks.  The  "  C.  H."  Ball 
Cock  is  furnished  complete  with  specially  tested  copper  float  and  adjustable  rod. 


"C.  H."  Slow-Closing  Valve. 


T1 


«HE  simplicity  of  this  Valve  commends  it- 
self to  PI  ambers  and  Architects  desirous 
of  using  a  Valve  that  will  give  the  required  amount 
of  water  to  thoroughly  flush  the  closet  WITHOUT 
WASTE,  the  adjusting  of  regulating  screw  shown  in 
cut  accomplishing  this  result. 


The'C.H. 

Syphon-Jet 

Closet 

is  fitted  with 
the"C.H." 
Slow- Clos- 
ing Valve 
and"C.H." 
Ball  Cock. 


Any  informa- 
tion relative  to 
my  specialties 
will  be  cheer- 
fully fu  rnished 
on  application. 


MANUFACTURED    BY 


C.  HOFFMAN,  JR. 

Manufacturer  of  MANHOFF  and  "  C.  H."  FINE  PLUMBING  SPECIALTIES, 

277  Pearl  Street,  NEW  YORK. 


Sent  Post-paid  on  Receipt  of  $3.00. 

STEAM-HEATING  PROBLEMS; 


OR. 


Questions,  Answers  and  descriptions  Delating 
to  Steam- Heating  and  Steam- Fitting, 


THE    ENGINEERING   RECORD, 

ESTABLISHED  1877. 

(Prior  to  1887,  THE  SANITARY  ENGINEER.) 


With  log  Illustrations. 


PREFACE. 

THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD,  while  devoted  to  Engineering,  Architecture,  Con- 
struction, and  Sanitation,  has  always  made  a  special  feature  of  its  departments  of  Steam 
and  Hot-Water  Heating,  in  which  a  great  variety  of  questions  have  been  answered  and 
descriptions  of  the  work  in  various  buildings  have  been  given.  The  favor 
with  which  a  recent  publication  from  this  office,  entitled  "Plumbing  and  House- 
Drainage  Problems,  "has  been  received  suggested  the  publication  of"  STEAM-HEATING 
PROBLEMS,"  which,  though  dealing  with  another  branch  of  industry,  is  similar  in 
character.  It  consists  of  a  selection  from  the  pages  of  THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD 
of  questions  and  answers,  besides  comments  on  various  problems  met  with  in  the  design- 
ing and  construction  of  steam-heating  apparatus,  and  descriptions  of  steam-heating 
work  in  notable  buildings. 

It  is  hoped  that  this  book  will  prove  useful  to  those  who  design,  construct,  and 
have  the  charge  of  steam-heating  apparatus. 


CONTENTS: 


BOILERS. 


On  blowing  off  and  filling  boilers. 

Where  a  test-gauge  should  be  applied  to  a  boiler. 

Domes  on  boilers:  whether  they  are  necessary  or 
not. 

Expansion  of  water  in  boilers. 

Cast  vs.  wrought  iron  for  nozzles  and  magazines 
of  house-heating  boilers. 

Pipe-connections  to  boilers. 

Passing  boiler-pipes  through  walls  ;  how  to  pre- 
vent breakage  by  settlement. 

Suffocation  of  workmen  in  boilers. 

Heating-boilers.     (A  problem.) 

A  detachable  boiler-lug. 

Isolating-valve  for  steam-main  of  boilers. 

On  the  effect  of  oil  in  boilers. 

Iron  rivets  and  steel  boiler-plates. 

Proportions  for  rivets  for  boiler-plates. 

Is  there  any  danger  in  using  water  continuously 
in  boilers? 

Accident  with  connected  boilers. 

A.  supposed  case  of  charring  wood  by  steam-pipes. 

Domestic  boilers  warmed  by  steam. 

VALUE  OF  HEATING-SURFACES. 

Computing  the  amount  of  radiator-surface  for 
warming  buildings  by  hot  water. 


Calculating  the  radiating-surface  for  heating 
buildings— the  saving  of  double-glazed  win- 
dows. 

Amount  of  heating-surface  required  in  hot-water 
apparatus  boilers  and  in  steam-apparatus 
boilers. 

Calculating  the  amount  of  radiating-surface  for  a 
given  room. 

How  much  heating-surface  will  a  steam-pipe  of 
_  given  size  supply  ? 

Coiis  -vs.  radiators  and  size  of  boiler  to  heat  a 
given  building. 

Calculating  the  amount  of  heating-surface. 

Computing  the  cost  of  steam  for  wanning. 

RADIATORS  AND  HEATERS. 

A  woman's  method  of  regulating  a  radiator  (cov- 
ering it  with  a  cosey). 

Improper  position  of  radiator- valves. 

Hot-water  radiator  for  private  houses. 

Remedying  air-binding  of  box-coils. 

How  to  use  a  stove  as  a  hot-water  heater. 

"  Plane  "  vs.  "Plain  "  as  a  term  as  applied  to  out- 
side surface  of  radiators. 

Relative  value  of  pipe  on  cast-iron  heating  sur 
face. 

Relative  value  of  pipe  on  steam-coils. 


STEAM-HEATING  PROBLEMS. 


"Warming  churches  (plan  of  placing  a  coil  in  each 

pew). 
Warming  churches. 

PIPE  AND  FITTING. 

Steam-heating  work— good  and  indifferent. 

Piping  adjacent  buildings:  pumps  vs.  steam- 
traps. 

True  diameters  and  weights  of  standard  pipes. 

Expansion  of  pipes  of  various  metals. 

Expansion  of  steam-pipes. 

Advantages  claimed  for  overhead  piping. 

Position  of  valves  on  steam-riser  connection. 

•Cause  of  noise  in  steam-pipes. 

One-pipe  system  of  steam-heating. 

How  to  heat  several  adjacent  buildings  with  a 
single  apparatus. 

Patents  on  Mills'  system  of  steam-heating. 

Air-binding  in  return  steam-pipes. 

Air-binding  in  return  steam-pipes,  and  methods 
to  overcome  it. 

VENTILATION. 

Size  of  registers  to  heat  certain  rooms. 
Determining  the  size  of  hot-air  flues. 
Window  ventilation. 
Removing  vapor  from  dye-house. 
Ventilation  of  Cunard  steamer  "Umbria." 
Calculating  sizes  of  flues  and  registers. 
On  methods  of  removing  air  from  between  ceiling 
and  roof  of  a  church. 

STEAM. 

Economy  of  using  exhaust  steam  for  heat- 
ing. 

Heat  of  steam  for  different  conditions. 

Superheating  steam  by  the  use  of  coils. 

Effect  of  using  a  small  pipe  for  exhaust  steam- 
heating. 

Explosion  of  a  steam-table. 

CUTTING    NIPPLES    AND    BENDING 
PIPES. 

Cutting    large    nipples— large    in  diameter  and 

short  in  length. 
Cutting  crooked  threads. 
Cutting  a  close  nipple  out  of  a  coupling  after  a 

thread  is  cut. 
Bending  pipe. 
Cutting  large  nipples. 
Cutting  various  sizes  of  thread  with  a  solid  die. 

RAISING  WATER  AUTOMATICALLY. 

Contrivance  for  raising  water  in  high  buildings. 
Criticism  of    the    foregoing  and    description    of 
another  device  for  a  similar  purpose. 

MOISTURE  ON  WALLS,  ETC. 

Cause  and  prevention  of  moisture  on  walls. 
Effect  of  moisture  on  sensible  temperature. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

Heating  water  in  large  tanks. 

Heating  water  for  large  institutions  and  high  city 

buildings. 
•Questions  relating  to  water-tanks. 


Faulty  elevator-pump  connections. 

On  heating  several  buildings  from  one  source. 

Coal-tar  coating  for  water-pipe. 

Filters  for  feeding  house- boilers.  Other  means 
of  clarifying  water. 

Testing  gas-pipes  for  leaks  and  making  pipe- 
joints. 

Will  boiling  drinking-water  purify  it? 

Differential  rams  for  testing  fittings  and  valves. 

Percentage  of  ashes  in  coal. 

Automatic  pump-governor. 

Cast-iron  safe  for  steam-radiators. 

Methods  of  graduating  radiator  service  according 
to  the  weather. 

Preventing  fall  of  spray  from  steam-exhaust 
pipes. 

Exhaust-condenser  for  preventing  fall  of  spray 
from  steam-exhaust  pipes. 

Steam-heating  apparatus  and  plenum  (ventila- 
tion), system  in  Kalamazoo  Insane  Asylum. 

Heating  and  ventilation  of  a  prison. 

Amount  of  heat  due  to  condensation  of  water. 

Expansion-joints . 

Resetting  of  house-heating  boilers  -a  possible 
saving  of  fuel. 

How  to  find  the  water-line  of  boilers  and  position 
of  try-cocks. 

Low-pressure  hot-water  system  for  heating 
buildings  in  England  (comments  by  The 
Sanitary  Engineer). 

Steam-heating  apparatus  in  Manhattan  Com- 
pany's and  Merchants'  Bank  Building,  New 
York. 

Boilers  in  Manhattan  Company's  and  Merchants' 
Bank  Building,  with  extracts  from  specifica- 
tions. 

Steam-heating  apparatus  in- Mutual  Life  Insur- 
ance Building  on  Broadway. 

The  setting  of  boilers  in  Tribune  Building,  New 
York. 

Warming  and  ventilation  of  West  Presbyterian 
Church,  New  York  City. 

Principles  of  heating-apparatus,  Fine  Arts  Exhi- 
bition Building,  Copenhagen. 

Warming  and  ventilation  of  Opera-House  at 
Ogdensburg,  N.  Y. 

Systems  of  heating  houses  in  Germany  and 
Austria. 

Steam-pipes  under  New  York  streets— difference 
between  two  systems  adopted. 

Some  details  of  steam  and  ventilating  apparatus 
used  on  the  continent  of  Europe. 

MISCELLANEOUS  QUESTIONS. 

Applying  traps  to  gravity  steam-apparatus. 
Expansion  of  brass  and  iron  pipe. 
Connecting  steam  and  return  risers  at  their  tops. 
Power  used  in  running  hydraulic  elevators. 
On  melting  snow  in  the  streets  by  steam. 
Action  of  ashes  street  fillings  on  iron  pipes. 
Arrangement  of  steam-coils  for  heating  oil-stills. 
Converting  a  steam-apparatus   into  a  hot-water 

apparatus  and  back  again. 
Condensation  per  foot  of  steam-main  when  laid 

under  ground. 
Oil  in  boilers  from  exhaust  steam,  and  methods 

of  prevention. 


Address,  BOOK  DEPARTMENT,  Sent  Post-paid  on  Receipt  of  3.00. 

THE    ENGINEERING    RECORD, 

p.  o.  BOX  303T.  ioo  WILLIAM  ST.,  NEW  YORK. 


The 


GUIDE 
SLEEVE^ 


OPERATING  VALVE 


The  great  advantage  of  this 
Valve  is  its  simplicity.  When 
you  look  into  the  bowl  and  see  the  Valve,  you 
know  that  it  must  go  down  into  the  outlet  pass- 
age to  close  it,  and  you  push  it  down  instinctively. 


Architects  and 
'Plumbers  will 
appreciate  its  special 
value  for  use  in  public 
lavatories  wbicb  are 


SPECIAL  PASSAGE 
FROM   OVERFLOW 

To  open  the 
Valve  pull  the 
loop  up,  and 
push  it  down 
to  close  it. 


Write  for 

Descriptive 
Circulars. 


frequented  by  people 
who  are  using  the  fixtures  for 
the  first  time  and  understand 
nothing  about  their  action. 


MANUFACTURED   BY... 


THE  MODEL  MANUFACTURING  CO., 

IMPROVED  PLUMBING  APPLIANCES, 

123  and  130  Oliver  Street,  BOSTON.  MASS 


The  Merrell  Manufacturing  Co, 


TOLEDO,    OHIO,    U.  S.  A. 
thie    most    complete    line    of 

HAND  and 

POWER 

PIPE 

THREADING 
MACHINERY 

IN  USE. 


CATALOGUE:    ON    ARRL.ICAXIOIM. 


MAYOR,   LANE   & 


131    Wfrite    Street,    NEW    YORK. 

MANUFACTURERS  OF  ALL  KINDS  OF 

Sprjys,  'Douches,  and  Bathing  Appliances  for  Hydropathic  Establish- 
ments, Sanitariums,  etc.    Plumbing  Materials  and  Sanitary  Specialties. 


The  Turkish 


Bath  Cabinet 


SANITARIUMS,  HOSPITALS, 
ASYLUMS,  ETC. 

This  Bath  is  especially  adapted  for  use  in  Sanitar- 
iums, Hospitals,  and  Asylums,  and  can  easily  be  operated 
by  inexperienced  persons. 

Ordinary  gas  conducted  through  flexible  tubing  trom 
any  fixture  is  used  in  the  heating  apparatus,  which  tub- 
ing is  furnished  with  the  Generator,  and  where  gas  is  not 
•convenient,  the  use  of  oil  or  alcohol  is  recommended. 
All  products  of  combustion  are  absolutely  excluded  from 
the  bath. 


SHOWING  CABINET  OPEN    WITH  SEAT,  LAMP, 
AND  FOOT   WARMER. 


Illustrated  Descriptive  Circulars  sent  for  tJic  asking. 

Turko-Russian 

Folding  Bath  Cabinet 

FOR 

Homes,  Sanitariums,  Electricians, 
Massage  Operators,  etc. 

Portable  and  can  be  used  in  any  room.  Sure  cure  for 
Colds,  Rheumatism,  etc.  Prevents  contracting  disease. 
Insures  a  healthy,  clear  complexion,  and  prevents  obesity. 

Furnishes  in  a  compact  and  convenient  form  facilities 
whereby  anyone  may  enjoy  at  home  the  various  types  in 
which  these  famous  baths  have  become  so  deservedly 
popular. 

Dry  Steam,  Vapor,  Oxygen,  Medicated,  and  Perfumed  Baths. 


+ 

<•$•  «f 

*  Maryland    Pottery     Company.  * 


TpHE  advantages  of  Plumbers' 
ware  made  of  Vitreous 
China  (a  hard,  thoroughly  non- 
absorbent  body  which  does  not 
depend  alone  on  its  glaze  for 
protection,  but  the  body  of 
which  is  as  equally  non-absorb- 
ent as  the  glaze),  will  be  appre- 
ciated by  those  familiar  with 
the  ends  to  be  attained  by 
Scientific  Plumbing. 


None  genuine  unless  stamped 

with  our  Trade  Mark 

as  follou-s  : 


VITREOUS    CHINA. 


Positively  guaranteed  against 
crazing,  i.  e.,  glaze  cracking. 


PIONEERS  in 
the  manufac- 
ture of  Plumbers' 
ware  in  Vitreous 
China,  and  to- day 
the  only  makers 
in  the  world 
making  such 
Vitreous  goods 
exclusively. 


BENAAA.RE:    OR    SF^LJRIOLJS    UVUTATIONS. 


Works  and  Office, 


* 
* 


BALTIMORE,  U.  S.  A.    £ 
*  * 

J^  «^->  »*»  fcj»  *««  fc}»  *^>  <^  fcj-  t£*  wf<  «A.  «Xrf  v{-  *&  «^*  «X«  «A»  «^  *X*  *X*  «A>  c^>  «**  «A.  »X*  *J-  «A*  wj<  «X*  «X*  «A»  fc}<  «X*  *fc  J^ 


THE 


FOR   STEAM  AND 
HOT   WATER    HEATING. 


1C 


SEND    FOR    CATALOGUE. 

THE  ELECTRIC  BOILER  CO. 

ROCHESTER,  N    Y 


IN  MORE   THAN 
jOO  SIZES. 


BOILER 


'N.C. 

Ball  Cock 


"(Non  Corrodible)  **""'"?' 

feature  of 
the  N.  C  Ball 
Cock  is  that 
the  Seat  is  of 
G/ass  and 
CAN  NEVER 
WRAR  OUT, 
as  it  is 

not  affected  by 
chemical  or 
mineral 
deposits  in  the 
water  or  by 
acids. 


The'* 


will  stand  140  Ibs.  pres- 
sure.  Where  the  pres 
is    greater    than    140 
Ibs.  our  High  Pressure  Adjustment  can 
be  readily  attached   to   the   Ball   Cock 
after  it  is  in  position  in  the  Tank,  when 
it  will  stand  300  Ibs.  pressure. 


Boston 

BRASS 
PIPE 
HANGER 


is  complete  in 
itself,  requiring 
no  screws 
or  other 
means  of 
fastening. 


The  only 

^Adjustable 

Hanger 

requiring 
but  one 
form  of 
bolder. 


MANUFACTURED 
KY 


CRAWFORD  &  YOUNQ, 


224   Franklin  Street, 
BOSTON,  MASS- 


EM-ESS 


is  the  phonetic  spelling  of  the  letters  M  and  S,   which  are  the  initial  letters 
of  the  names  Meyer  and  Sniff  en. 

IT  MEANS 

that  Faucet*  and    Plumbing    Fixtures    so    marked  or  designated    are   made    by 
The   Meyer-Sniff  en    Co.,  Limited,  and  are  of  superior  quality. 

It  has  become  necessary  to  prefix  this  trade-mark  to  the  name  of  the  genuine  faucets  made 
by  us  because  a  U.  S.  District  Judge  has  decreed  that  when  an  article  on  which  a  patent  has  been 
obtained  is  known  by  the  inventor's  name,  this  inventor's  name  becomes  public  property  when  the 
first  patent  expires. 

This  decision  disregards  the  right  to  a  name  which  has  been  earned  by  years  of  careful  manu- 
facture and  use  of  best  materials.  It  explains  however  the  presence  of  so  many  imitations  of  the 
"Em-Ess  Fuller"  Faucets  and  "Em-Ess  Doherty"  Self -Closing  Cocks,  and  has  given  the  con- 
tractor the  right  to  put  in  any  faucet  embodying  the  feature  originally  patented,  no  matter  by 
whom  made,  when  the  words  ' '  Fuller  "  or  "  Doherty  "  are  used  without  the  prefiix  in  a  specifica- 
tion. If  those  made  by  The  Meyer-Sniffen  Co.,  Ltd.,  are  desired 

PLAINLY  SPECIFY 

"Em-Ess  Fuller"   Faucets   (wS^Mk.). 

"Em-Ess   Doherty"   Self-Closing  Faucets  (v 


Many  plumbers  do  not  know  that  our 
present  Price-List  is  lower  than  the  old 
Fuller  Price-Lint  still  used  by  the  makers 
of  the  imitations — the  difference  in  net 
cost  being  less  than  they  imagine.  This 
is  equally  true  of  the  "Em-Ess  Doherty" 
Self-Closing  Cocks. 


THE  MEYER=SNIFFEN  CO.,  Ltd., 

(Established  1868). 

MANUFACTURERS  AND  IMPORTERS 

High  Grade  Plumbing  Fixtures, 

S  EAST  ipth  ST.,  NEW  YORK. 


FOR  SCHOOLS,  FACTORIES,  AND  INSTITDTIONS. 

'HE  ••  EM-ESS  "  PARSONS  SCHOOL  WATER-CLOSET.  A  radical  and  successful 
departure  from  latrines  and  sinks  retaining  filth  for  a  period.    The  arrangement 

of  each  basin  in  the  trough  at 


EM: ESS  PARSONS!  School  Water.Closet. 


a  slightly  lower  level,  with  its 
weir  or  dam  toward  the  out- 
let, is  novel  and  ingenious, 
giving  an  equal  flush  to  each 
basin  with  a  minimum  quan- 
tity of  water.  An  important 
consideration  when  meter 
rates  have  to  be  paid  or 
drainage  is  into  a  cesspool. 
The  important  advantage  is 
secured  of  a  body  of  water  in 
each  depression,  as  in  a  wash- 
out closet,  that  may  be  auto- 
matically removed  with  all 
its  contents  at  predetermined 
intervals. 


For  Illustrated  Circular 
and  Price-Lists  address 

THE    MEYER-SNIFFEN    CO.,  LIMITED, 

MANUFACTURERS  AND    IMPORTERS  OF  THE 

"EM-ESS"  High  Grade  Plumbing  Fixtures, 

.,{  5  East  I9th  Street.  NEW    YORK. 


HOT- WATER  HEATING  AND  FITTING; 

OR, 

WARMING  BUILDINGS  BY  HOT-WATER. 

A   DESCRIPTION   OF 

Modern    Hoi-Water   Heating   Apparatus — The   Methods   of  their 
Construction  and  the  Principles  Involved. 

WITH  OVER  Two  HUNDRED  ILLUSTRATIONS,  DIAGRAMS,  AND  TABLES. 


BY  WILLIAM  J.  BALDWIN,  M.  Am.  Soc.  C.  £., 

Member  American  Society  Mechanical  Engineers. 
AUTHOR  OF  "STEAM-HEATING  FOR  BUILDINGS,''  ETC.,  ETC. 


Graphical  methods  are  used  to  illustrate  many  of  the  important  principles  that  are 
to  be  remembered  by  the  Hot-Water  Engineer. 


The  volume  is  8vo.,of  385  pages,  besides  the  index;  handsomely  bound 
in  cloth,  and  will  be  sent  postpaid  on  receipt  of  $4.00 


Among  the  questions  treated  are  the  following: 

Laws  of  Hot- Water  Circulation. 

Flow  of  Water  in  the  Pipes  of  an  Apparatus. 

Graphical  Illustration  of  the  Expansion  of  Water. 

Graphical  Illustration  of  the  Theoretical  Velocity  of  Water  in  Flow- 
Pipes. 

Efflux  of  Water  Through  Apertures. 

Passage  of  Water  Through  Short  Parallel  Pipes. 

Passage  of  Water  Through  Long  Pipes. 

Friction' of  Water  in  Long  Pipes. 

Quantity  of  Water  that  will  Pass  Through  Pipes  under  Different  Press- 
ures. 

Diminution  of  the  Flow  of  Water  by  Friction  in  Long  Pipes. 

Loss  of  Pressure  by  Friction  of  Elbows  and  Fittings. 

How  the  Friction  of  Elbows  and  Fittings  may  be  Reduced  to  a  Minimum. 

Flow  of  Water  Through  the  Mains  of  an  Apparatus,  Considered  under 
its  Various  Practical  Conditions. 

How  to  Find  the  Total  Head  Required  when  the  Quantity  of  Water  to 
be  Passed  and  the  Size  and  Length  of  the  Pipes  are  Known. 

How  to  Find  the  Quantity  of  Water  in  U.  S.  Gallons  that  will  Pass 
Through  a  Pipe  when  the  Total  Head  and  Length  and  the  Diameter 
of  the  Pipe  is  Known. 

To  Find  the  Diameter  of  the  Pipes  for  a  Given  Passage  of  Water. 

How  to  Find  the  Direct  Radiating  Surface  Required  for  Buildings. 


How  Heat  is  Lost  from  the  Rooms  of  a  Building. 

Simple  Formula  for  Finding  the  Radiating  Surfaces  for  Buildings. 

Experiments  by  Different  Authorities  on  Radiating  Surfaces. 

To  Find  the  Amount  of  Water  that  should  Pass  Through  a  Radiator 
for  a  Certain  Duty. 

How  to  Determine  the  Size  of  Inlet  and  Outlet  Pipes  for  Hot-Water 
Radiators. 

Diagrams  Giving  Graphical  Methods  for  Finding  the  Diameters  and 
Lengths  of  Flow  and  Return  Pipes  for  Hot-Water  Apparatus. 

Proportioning  Coils  and  Radiators  of  an  Apparatus  for  Direct  Radiation. 

Description  of  Different  Systems  of  Piping  in  Use. 

Proportioning  an  Apparatus  for  Indirect  Heating. 

Illustrations  of  Boilers. 

Hot-Water  Heating  in  the  State,  War,  and  Navy  Department  Building. 

Hot-Water  Heating  in  Private  Residences. 

Boilers  Used  for  Hot- Water  Heating. 

Direct  Radiators  Used  for  Hot-Water  Heating. 

Indirect  Radiators  Used  for  Hot-Water  Heating. 

The  Effect  of  Air-Traps  in  Hot- Water  Pipes. 

Expansion  Tanks — and  How  they  should  be  Prepared. 

Danger  of  Closed  Expansion  Tanks. 

The  Various  Valves  Used  for  Hot-Water  Heating. 

Air- Vents  Used  for  Hot-Water  Radiators. 

Automatic  Regulators  Used  in  Hot- Water  Heating. 

Special  Fittings  for  Hot-Water  Heating. 

How  to  Conduct  Tests  of  Hot-Water  Radiators. 

Method  of  Connecting  Thermometers  with  Hot-Water  Pipes  and 
Radiators. 

Tables  of  Contents  of  the  Pipes  of  an  Apparatus. 

Table  of  Co-efficients  of  the  Expansion  of  Water  from  Various  Sources, 
with  an  Ample  Table  of  Contents  from  which  the  above  Items 
were  Selected;  also  an  Alphabetically  Arranged  Index,  the  Whole 
Containing  a  Large  Amount  of  Useful  Information  of  Great  Value 
to  the  Engineer,  Architect,  Mechanic,  and  Householder.  No  Archi- 
tect, Engineer,  Steam-Fitter,  or  Plumber  throughout  the  United 
States  should  be  without  a  copy  of  this  book.  It  is  written  in  the 
simple  style  of  Mr.  Baldwin's  former  book,  "Steam-Heating  for 
Buildings,"  and  is  within  the  ready  comprehension  of  all. 


Address,  BOOK  DEPARTMENT, 

THE    ENGINEERING    RECORD, 

P.  0.60x3037.  I00  WILLIAM  ST.,  NEW  YORK. 


D.  SAUNDBRS'  SONS, 

Manufacturers  of  Patent 

PIPE  CUTTERS 


CUTTER.  <*X 

ALSO    OF 

Pipe  Cutting  and  Threading  Machines,  \  to  18" 

SEXD  FOR  CATALOGUE 

5  Atherton  Street,    YONKERS,  N.  Y. 


I.   X.  L. 


'"'RECORD 


GIVES  PROMINENCE  TO 

MUNICIPAL  AND  BUILDING  ENGINEERING 

WHICH  INCLUDES 

Water- Works  (Construction  and  Operation),  Sewerage,  Bridges, 
Metal  Construction,  Pavements,  Subways,  Road  Making, 
Docks,  River  and   Harbor  Work,  Tunneling,  foun- 
dations, Building  Construction,  Industrial  Steam 
and  Power  Plants,  Ventilation,  Steam  and 
Hot-Water  Heating,  Plumbing, Lighting, 
Elevator  and  Pneumatic  Service. 


The  success  of  this  publication  has  been  marked  In  many  ways;  not  only  has  It 
become  a  source  of  protlt  to  its  projector  but  it  has  been  of  incalculable 
value  to  the  general  public  whose  interests  it  has  always  served."— Cincin- 
nati Gazette. 

"Itstands  as  a  tine  example  of  clean  and  able  journalism."— Railroad  Gazette. 


Published  Saturdays  at  100  William  St.,  NEW  YORK. 

$5.OO   PER  YEAR.          SINGLE   COPY,  12   CCNTS. 


THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD  is  the  recognized  medium 
for  advertisements  inviting  proposals  for  all  Municipal  and 
U.  S.  Government  Engineering  and  Public  Building  Work.  Jts 
subscribers  include  the  experienced  and  reliable  Contractors  ana 
Manufacturers  of  Engineering  and  Building  Supplies  in  all  sec- 
tions of  the  United  States  and  Canada,  'ine  RECORD'S  valut 
to  \ecurt  competition  in  bids  is  therefore  obvious. 

IN  its  Proposal  Advertisements  and  Contracting  News 
Department  THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD  furnishes 
weekly  information  of  special  interest  to  Contractors, 
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Supplies.  An  extensive  staff  is  maintained  for  the  collec- 
tion and  'verification  of  this  news;  most  of  the  intelligence 
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directly  interested  in  the  work,  and  especial  endeavor  is 
made  to  authenticate  every  item  published. 


THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD 


PUBLICATIONS. 


SOME  DETAILS  OF  WATER-WORKS  CONSTRUCTION. 

By  W.  R.  BILLINGS,  Superintendent  of  Water-Works  at  Taunton,  Mass.  With 
Illustrations  from  sketches  by  the  Author.  Large  8vo.  Cloth.  Price,  $2.00. 

ROAD  CONSTRUCTION  AND  MAINTENANCE. 

Prize  Essays.  Reprinted  from  THEENGINEERING  RECORD.  Large  12mo.,  109  pp. 
Price :  Paper,  60  Cents ;  Cloth,  $1.00. 

PAVEMENTS  AND  ROADS; 

Their  Construction  and  Maintenance.  Reprinted  from  THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD. 
Compiled  by  E.  G.  LOVE,  Ph.  D.  8vo.  Cloth.  410  pp.  Price,  $5.00. 

THE  BERLIN  VIADUCT  RAILWAY. 

With  23  Illustrations.  Reprinted  from  THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD  (prior  to  1887 
The  Sanitary  Engineer).  Price,  25  Cents. 

WATER  TOWER  AND  PUMPING  STATION  DESIGNS. 

THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD'S  Prize  Designs  for  Water  Towers,  Pumping  and 
Power  Stations.    Cloth.    Price,  $2.00. 
An  Index  to  matter  pertaining  to 

SEWERAGE  AND  SEWAGE  DISPOSAL. 

In  Volumes  V.-XVII.  (December,  1881,  to  June,  1888,)  of  THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD 
(prior  to  1887  The  Sanitary  Engineer).  Compiled  by  DANA  C.  BARBER,  C.  E. 
Large  8vo.  Cloth.  Price,  $2.00.  •" 

PUBLIC  WATER  SUPPLIES; 

Their  Collection,  Storage,  Distribution.  Engineering,  Plant,  Purity,  and  Analysis. 
A  digest  and  index  to  Volumes  V.-XVIII.  of  THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD  (prior 
to  1887  The  Sanitary  Engineer).  Compiled  by  D.  WALTER  BROWN,  Ph.  D.  8vo. 
242  pp.'  Price,  $2.00. 

WATER  WASTE  PREVENTION. 

Its  Importance  and  the  Evils  Due  to  Its  Neglect.  With  an  account  of  the  methods 
adopted  in  various  cities  in  Great  Britain  and  the  United  States.  By  HENRY  C. 
MEYER,  Editor  of  THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD.  With  an  Appendix.  Large  8vo. 
Cloth.  Price,  $1.00. 

VENTILATION  AND  HEATING. 

By  JOHN  S.  BILLINGS,  A.  M.,  M.  D.,  LL.  D.  Edinb.  and  Harvard.  D.  C.  L.  Oxon 
Member  of  the  National  Academy  of  Sciences.  Surgeon,  U.  S.  Army,  etc.  Over 
500  pp.— 210  Illustrations.  Price,  $6.00. 

AMERICAN  STEAM  AND  HOT-WATER  HEATING  PRACTICE. 

Being  a  selected  reprint  of  descriptive  articles,  questions  and  answers  from  THE 
ENGINEERING  RECORD.  Boards;  size,  8x11  inches;  pp.  317;  illustrations  585. 
Price,  $4.CO. 

AMERK  AN  PLUMBING  PRACTICE. 

Being  a  selected  reprint  of  descriptive  articles,  questions  and  answers  from  THE 
ENGINEERING  RECORD.  Boards;  size,  8x11  inches;  pp.  268;  illustrations,  536. 
Price,  $3.50. 

HOT-WATER  HEATING  AND  FITTING; 

Or, Warming  Buildings  by  Hot  Water.  A  description  of  modern  hot-water  heating 
apparatus— the  methods  of  their  construction  and  the  principles  involved.  With 
over  200  illustrations,  diagrams,  and  tables.  By  WILLIAM  J.  BALDWIN,  M.  Am. 
Soc.  C.  E.,  Member  American  Society  Mechanical  Engineers,  Author  of  "Steam- 
Heating  for  Buildings,"  etc.,  etc.  The  volume  is  8vo.,  of  385  pages,  besides  the  in- 
dex. Graphical  methods  are  used  to  illustrate  many  of  the  important  principles 
that  are  to  be  remembered  by  the  hot-water  engineer.  Handsomely  bound  in 
Cloth.  Price,  $4  00. 

STEAM-HEATING  PROBLEMS; 

Or,  Questions,  Answers,  and  Descriptions  Relating  to  Steam- Heating  and  Steam- 
Fitting,  from  THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD  (prior  to  1887  The  Sanitary  Engineer). 
With  109  Illustrations.  Large  8vo.  Cloth.  Price,  |3.00. 

PLUMBING  PROBLEMS; 

Or,  Questions,  Answers,  and  Descriptions,  from  THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD 
(prior  to  1887  The  Sanitary  Engineer).  With  142  Illustrations.  Large  8vo.  Cloth. 
Price,  $2.00. 

Any  of  these  Publications  sent  postpaid  on  receipt  of  the  Price,  in  Postal  Note,  Regis- 
tered Letter,  or  Draft  on  New  York,  drawn  to  the  order  of 

THE    ENGINEERING    RECORD, 

f.  O.  BOX  303T.  1OO   WILL' AM    ST.,    NEW   YORK. 

I51P0  THE  trouble  and  expense  involved  in  the  clerical  work  of  keeping  the  accounts 
and  trying  to  collect  small  amounts  due  for  books  sold  to  persons,  often  of 
undoubted  responsibility,  simply  because  small  accounts  are  apt  to  be  neglected, 
has  compelled  THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD  to  adopt  the  rule  to 
decline  to  open  accoimts  for  books.  Orders  for  books,  therefore,  will 
only  be  filled  when  accompanied  by  Postal  Note,  Check,  or  Draft  on  New 
York,  drawn  to  the  order  of  THE  ENGINEERING  RECORD. 


RICHMOND  HEATERS 


SECTIONAL   VIEW. 

STEAM  CAPACITIES, 

17?  to  3,000  square  feet. 

HOT-WATER  CAPACITIES, 

300  to  ^,000  square  feet. 


WE  SELL  ONLY  TO  THE  TRADE, 


Steam  and 
Hot-Water  for 
Heating  of 
Homes  a 
Specialty. 


STEAM  VIEW. 


The  Richmond  Stove  Company, 


NORWICH,  CONN. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW 


OCT  11  1915 
OCT  19 


MAR 


AUG  ,  ;      '  7 


30?7i-l,'15 


QfJ89 


' 


